Archibald cements lead in Track Champions League penultimate round
By Laura Weislo published 3 December 21
Wild moves into women's endurance podium position with Scratch Race win
Katie Archibald wins on round 3 of the UCI Track Champions League in London (Image credit: UCI Track Champions League)
Katie Archibald delighted the home crowd in London during round three of the Track Champions League with an unexpected and rousing performance in the Elimination Race to win ahead of Kirsten Wild (Netherlands) and Annette Edmondson (Australia).
The Briton thrilled the crowd by playing the dangerous game of sitting at the back to save energy and then accelerating to escape being eliminated on most of the 18 sprints. She very nearly lost out with 15 riders still in the race but narrowly snuck past as Kendall Ryan (USA) missed out instead.
She dangled at the back until there were three riders left: her, Wild and Edmondson and strangely dropped back and up the banking. Her strategy became quite clear when she put out a fierce acceleration to first blast by Edmondson and then attack to leave Wild behind and take the win. Archibald credited the British fans for giving her the energy to pull off her victory.
"Every bit was needed, I don't have the speed on Kirsten tonight but thankfully I had the crowd," she said. "As soon as I saw how it stacked out in the scratch race, I was seeing her riding on the front and was saying from six laps out 'you're going to have to go'. It's horrible because you're in total agony and you have to pretend it's a walk in the park and hope the elastic snaps."
The win comes after Wild dominated the sprint in the Scratch Race by leading out for more than a lap and then holding off Portugal's Maria Martins with Archibald in third.
Archibald heads into the now-final round on Saturday with a commanding lead of 108 points to Edmondson's 73. Wild is a close third with 72. With 40 points awarded to the winner, there is still room for Wild, Edmondson and Canada's Maggie Coles-Lyster to unseat the British rider.
Women's Scratch Race
Rider Name (Country) Team
1 Kirsten Wild (Netherlands)
2 Maria Martins (Portugal)
3 Katie Archibald (Great Britain)
4 Anita Yvonne Stenberg (Norway)
5 Annette Edmondson (Australia)
6 Tania Calvo (Spain)
7 Silvia Zanardi (Italy)
8 Olivija Baleisyte (Lithuania)
9 Yumi Kajihara (Japan)
10 Eukene Larrarte (Spain)
11 Emily Kay (Ireland)
12 Alzbeta Bacikova (Slovakia)
13 Hanna Tserakh (Belarus)
14 Maggie Coles-Lyster (Canada)
15 Gulnaz Khatuntseva (Russian Federation)
16 Kendall Ryan (United States Of America)
17 Karolina Karasiewicz (Poland)
18 Michelle Andres (Switzerland)
Women's Elimination Race
7 Karolina Karasiewicz (Poland)
8 Maggie Coles-Lyster (Canada)
9 Emily Kay (Ireland)
13 Anita Yvonne Stenberg (Norway)
16 Tania Calvo (Spain)
18 Maria Martins (Portugal)
Women's Endurance Standings after Round 3
1 Katie Archibald (Great Britain) 108
2 Annette Edmondson (Australia) 73
3 Kirsten Wild (Netherlands) 72
4 Maggie Coles-Lyster (Canada) 70
5 Anita Yvonne Stenberg (Norway) 66
6 Olivija Baleisyte (Lithuania) 63
7 Silvia Zanardi (Italy) 51
8 Yumi Kajihara (Japan) 48
9 Maria Martins (Portugal) 43
10 Emily Kay (Ireland) 34
11 Hanna Tserakh (Belarus) 29
12 Tania Calvo (Spain) 28
13 Michelle Andres (Switzerland) 21
14 Karolina Karasiewicz (Poland) 20
15 Kendall Ryan (United States Of America) 19
16 Eukene Larrarte (Spain) 18
17 Gulnaz Khatuntseva (Russian Federation) 12
18 Alzbeta Bacikova (Slovakia) 11
Laura Weislo
Laura Weislo has been with Cyclingnews since 2006 after making a switch from a career in science. As Deputy Editor, she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news. As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track, Laura has a passion for all three disciplines. When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads, paths and gravel tracks.
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