Pair help GB clinch sprint spot at Tokyo Olympics

Great Britain have secured a place in the women’s individual sprint events at Tokyo 2020 as Katy Marchant and Sophie Capewell picked up the required points at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships yesterday.

Marchant made the last 16 of the competition and Capewell the last 32, but between them had already done enough to move far enough up the rankings to book at least one ticket for Tokyo.

Marchant and Capewell produced personal bests as they qualified 10th and 15th fastest with times of 10.559 and 10.625 seconds respectively.

Marchant, who won individual sprint bronze in Rio four years ago, admitted she was disappointed with her ride overall but delighted to have a place in the bag.

“It’s a massive achievement in quite a high pressure environment,” she said.

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt pressure like I have today on myself.

“As an individual performance I wanted to get a top eight so I’m a little bit disappointed but we’ve managed to do that so I can’t be too disappointed.”

There is still the opportunity to secure a second place via the keirin on Sunday.

“I think I’ll feel a little less pressure,” Marchant said of that event. “Obviously I want to do all I can to get that second spot. Going into Rio, I was going there for the experience and came away with a bronze medal.”

The women’s sprint has been a major area of concern for British Cycling in recent years, with Marchant left as the sole senior rider after the controversial exit of Jess Varnish and the retirement of Becky James.