Katie Archibald Finishes Second In Women’s Endurance In Track Champions League

Great Britain’s Katie Archibald settled for second place in the women’s endurance event at the 2022 UCI Track Champions League after ending the series on a high note in London.

The two-time Olympic champion found herself eight points behind Jennifer Valente in the standings heading into Saturday’s fifth and final round at the Lee Valley VeloPark.

An early exit from the elimination race in Friday’s fourth round left Archibald with a mountain to climb on the final day, and she added another 15 points to her total after finishing third in the scratch behind Sarah van Dam and Chloe Moran.

READ ARTICLE: Ukrainian Fighter On Tyson Fury vs Derek Chisora Card Enters Ring In Army Outfit

However, Archibald delighted the home crowd by winning the final elimination race of the series ahead of Valente, but a total of 158 points was not enough for her to retain the title that she won in the inaugural edition of the Track Champions League in 2021.

Victory in London capped off an emotional year for Archibald, who tragically lost her husband Rab Wardell to a fatal cardiac arrest in August.

Valente placed second in the elimination race, which was enough to give her victory in the women’s endurance competition with 161 points, while Maggie Coles-Lyster of Canada took bronze with 110.

Archibald’s compatriot Sophie Lewis finished ninth in the women’s endurance competition after totalling 76 points, as Laura Kenny placed 18th overall.

Elsewhere, another victory came Great Britain’s way in the men’s endurance finale, as Mark Stewart won the scratch race to cement his third-placed position in the rankings.

The 27-year-old bowed out early from the elimination race and only added another eight points to his name, but a total of 115 was still enough for a spot on the podium.

The final elimination race in the men’s endurance was won by Stewart’s compatriot Oliver Wood – who also placed first in the event in the third round in Saint-Quentin – and the 27-year-old would previously add a third-place finish in the scratch during an eye-catching performance.

However, Wood’s total of 112 meant that he just missed out on a spot in the top three of the men’s endurance standings, as Switzerland’s Claudio Imhof became champion with 125 points, and Spain’s Sebastian Mora won the silver.

Meanwhile, Germany’s Mathilde Gros got her hands on the women’s sprint title with a total of 140 points after winning the final sprint race in London, while Kelsey Mitchell (127) and Shanne Braspennincx (122) won silver and bronze respectively.

Great Britain’s Emma Finucane achieved 10 points across the keirin and sprint races – her best overall total in the series – to end up in 15th, while Sophie Capewell placed 18th after her withdrawal through injury.

Finally, the two-horse battle for supremacy in the men’s sprint went right down to the wire, and victory in the final keirin gave Matthew Richardson the title with 183 points, just two clear of close rival Harrie Lavreysen.

Stefan Botticher of Germany took the overall bronze with 136, as home favourite Hamish Turnbull collected 41 points to finish 14th overall.