By Hannah Blackwell
Meg Barker claimed it felt “easy” after she struck gold as Great Britain successfully defended the women’s team pursuit title at the Cycling World Championships in Denmark.
The Welsh rider – who joined the line-up for the final in place of Jess Roberts – was alongside Josie Knight, Anna Morris and Katie Archibald as Team GB stormed to a victory in Ballerup, reeling in Germany to secure another title.
🤝🌈BACK-TO-BACK🌈🤝
Great Britain take GOLD in the Women Team Pursuit at the 2024 Tissot UCI Track World Championships!
Congrats to Anna Morris, Katie Archibald, Josie Knight, Meg Barker and Jess Roberts 👏 @BritishCycling #Ballerup2024 #TrackCycling pic.twitter.com/06FdpHbEn4
— UCI Track Cycling (@UCI_Track) October 17, 2024
Barker, 27, said: “When you win it, it feels easy!
“Those that go the fastest generally feel the best. I think we did exactly what we wanted to do, but we maybe didn’t expect the catch so early.”
Archibald’s share of victory came on her return from serious leg injuries. Her hopes of more Olympic success in Paris were dashed when she suffered a fractured tibia and fibula, dislocated ankle and ligament damage in a freak accident when stumbling over a step in her garden in June.
GOLD!!! WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!
TRACK WORLDS – WOMEN'S TEAM PURSUIT
Great Britain's Katie Archibald, Megan Barker, Josie Knight and Anna Morris have beaten Germany to win the @SANTINI_SMS Rainbow jerseys pic.twitter.com/1NgctZR5f4— British Cycle Sport (@VeloUK) October 17, 2024
The 30-year-old Scot said: “It is not [about] words [being back]. It is a deep breath, it is feeling where you are meant to be and a team you are meant to be part of and what a treat to be part of this squad. It is very special.”
It was a second gold of the championships for Great Britain after the women’s success in the team sprint on Wednesday for Olympic champions Sophie Capewell, Emma Finucane and Katy Marchant.
However, the men’s team pursuit squad had to settle for silver after slipping to a narrow defeat by hosts Denmark.
Ethan Hayter, Josh Charlton, Charlie Tanfield and Ollie Wood had been in front at 1,000 metres.
Meg Barker will be heading to Paris as a reserve for the women's track endurance cycling team, following in the footsteps of her sister, Elinor Barker, who will be appearing in Paris for her third Olympics!🚴♀️#BBCCycling pic.twitter.com/6ZgaBgS90i
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) July 5, 2024
Denmark, though, gained ground over the closing stages to take the lead when the teams dropped a rider and went on to claim gold – delighting a raucous home crowd.
“We gave it everything in that final and we just lost out a little bit at the finish but I think we got the most out of ourselves and that’s just how it is,” said Tanfield.
Elsewhere, Harry Ledingham-Horn placed fourth in the men’s keirin, while Noah Hobbs was sixth in the scratch race, both men making their world championship debuts. Sophie Lewis suffered an early exit from the elimination race, finishing 15th overall.
In qualification for the women’s sprint, reigning world champion Finucane and Capewell both progressed to the semi-finals, but Marchant was edged out by Hetty van de Wouw of the Netherlands.
"It's tight on the line, but it looks like Cat Ferguson… or is it Barker? BARKER TAKES THE WIN ON THE LINE!"
A really eventful race, brilliantly finished by Meg Barker!
Our latest National Champion 🤩#BritishCycling | #NatRoadChamps pic.twitter.com/CePbBLDphe
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) June 23, 2023