SCOTLAND’S top three track cyclists will aim to boost their medal collection as they begin their assault on the UEC European Track Cycling Championships, which begin today.
Olympic champion Katie Archibald, along with Neah Evans and Jack Carlin, are part of the 17-strong GB team which will go into the event in Apeldoorn in the Netherlands looking to get onto the podium over the week.
Archibald is already an 11-time European champion and so will be looking to add to that tally over the next few days. As part of the team pursuit squad, the 25-year-old will be looking to defend the title won in Glasgow last year, while the Scot will also be aiming to grab a spot on the podium in the madison, which she has admitted she is targetting at the Tokyo Olympics next year.
Neah Evans was also part of the team pursuit squad which won European gold in Glasgow last year and is also in Apeldoorn to defend her title. The 29-year-old remains relatively new to the world of elite-level cycling having only become a full-time athlete in the past few years. However, her ascent to the top has been remarkable and she has made herself an integral member of the GB team pursuit squad, with another good showing at these European Championship likely to edge her closer to an Olympic spot for Tokyo.
Carlin is the lone Scottish male in the squad and despite being only 22-years-old, has amassed a wealth of experience at the very top level.
Carlin is a two-time World Championship silver medallist but has yet to get his hands on a major championship gold. The sprint specialist has every chance of gold at these European Championships though and having had a good summer’s training, he is confident of the shape he is in.
“We’ve had a really good training season over this summer, and everyone has come out strong from that, so there are exciting things to come,” he said, before acknowledging that the strength-in-depth of the GB squad is a huge positive for every rider.
“Everyone is hot on each other’s heels, hoping they can push each other on and push themselves on to make the team (for Tokyo).”
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