Katie Archibald helped Britain hold off the challenge from Russia to successfully defend their team pursuit title at the 2014 UEC European Track Championships.

Russia pulled ahead after the first kilometre, but Archibald, Elinor Barker, Ciara Horne and Laura Trott had claimed the lead by the 2km mark, eventually posting 4min 38.391sec to take gold, beating the Russian quartet of Tamara Balabolina, Irina Molicheva, Aleksandra Goncharova and Evgenia Romanyuta by almost seven seconds in the French overseas region of Guadeloupe.

There was success, too, for the British men's team pursuit side, with Ed Clancy, Jon Dibben, Owain Doull and Andy Tennant stopping the clock at 4:11.545 to claim gold over Germany.

Scotland's Callum Skinner, alongside Lewis Oliva and Matt Crampton, were sixth in the men's team sprint, their time of 1:01.377 just two-tenths shy of a medal ride. The title went to Germany's Robert Forstemann, Tobias Wachter and Joachim Eilers.

The action in the Caribbean continues this weekend. Skinner, 21, was due to be competing overnight UK-time in the men's sprint qualification, for which the finals will take place today, with 20-year-old Archibald down to ride in the women's scratch race.

Skinner will also compete in the men's kilometre time-trial later today, followed by the keirin tomorrow. Commonwealth bronze medallist Archibald will contest tomorrow's women's individual pursuit, the event in which she is reigning British champion.