Home advantage can get Archibald back on track

Scottish star Katie Archibald is intent on putting a painful few months behind her when she returns to the track at the European Championships in Glasgow.

The 24-year-old has faced a battle to be fit for her home event after breaking her collarbone during the women’s Tour de Yorkshire at the start of May.

Her crash brought an abrupt end to a disappointing road campaign after a year that had started so well with a medal of every colour – including an impressive individual pursuit gold – at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

But with the road to Tokyo 2020 beginning in earnest in Glasgow – when the first batch of qualifying points will be available – Archibald is determined to use the home-town factor to get her season literally back on track.

Archibald said: “The Commonwealth Games gold medal with the British record as well is something that shines in my memory and will do for years to come.

“I guess I feel a bit guilty that it does feel like things have gone a bit wrong through the road season. It was a pain but it means I’m unbelievably keen to open the track season and to start with a home event is a really big deal.”

This year’s World Championships in the Netherlands – at which the Scot claimed madison gold –yielded a remarkable 12 medals for the host nation.