Archibald takes silver for GB on opening day of Track Cycling World Cup

World champion Katie Archibald had to settle for silver in the omnium as the Track Cycling World Cup got under way in Manchester yesterday.

The 23-year-old Scot, who also successfully defended her European omnium title in Berlin last month, was in third place after the opening scratch race and the tempo race.

The British rider won the elimination race to set up a thrilling finale in the points race but could not hold off American Jennifer Valente, who claimed gold.

Archibald trailed Valente by three points with two sprints remaining in the points race.

Ireland’s Lydia Boylan denied Archibald the five point-win on the penultimate sprint with Valente snatching a point, meaning the American held a one-point lead going into the final sprint.

Valente sat on the shoulder before driving past the Scot on the final lap to take victory.

Welsh rider Jonathan Mould claimed a silver in the scratch race.

The British quartet of Ed Clancy, Steven Burke, Kian Emadi and Ollie Wood qualified fastest for today’s men’s team pursuit final, seeing off European champions France.

In the men’s sprint, a young British trio of Ryan Owens, Jack Carlin and Joe Truman were narrowly beaten to the bronze medal by the Netherlands while Katy Marchant and Sophie Cardwell lost their semi-final to Germany in the women’s team sprint.