Archibald hangs on bravely to seal gold
KATIE ARCHIBALD thought she had blown it before claiming her first Track Cycling World Championships individual title with victory in the omnium yesterday.
The 23-year-old from Milngavie won the opening two of four disciplines, but was clinging on by the end of the concluding points race.
She finished the day elated, wearing a world champion’s rainbow jersey to complement her shock of pink hair.
‘I thought it was home time,’ said Archibald, who won ahead of Holland’s Kirsten Wild and Amy Cure of Australia.
‘There was a point where I kept chasing. I put way too much into the chase watching Cure.
‘And Wild just kept swinging up, swinging up. So I thought: “Well, I’m just going to have to chase”.
‘And then she attacks and I thought: “Of course she attacks. That’s the right thing to do! I’m going to lose. Well done”.
‘For it to happen the way it did, thinking I was either going to be last or first, was very confusing emotionally.’
Archibald’s striking individualism was apparent when she first came to the attention of British Cycling in 2013.
With a pierced lip, tattoos and, most likely, blue hair — she changes hair colour regularly — she caught the attention of then head coach Shane Sutton.
‘The first time I met Shane he came up to me and said: “You look terrifying” and just walked away,’ added Archibald.
‘And I don’t think he meant it as a compliment. I don’t know what he thinks now, probably still look terrifying.’
Sutton resigned as technical director last April amid allegations of discrimination, that he denies and which sparked an independent review which is ongoing.
Archibald laughed off the comments and the former junior swimmer has come a long way since.
The Scot won the opening scratch race and the tempo race before a fifth-placed finish in the elimination behind Cure saw them enter the 80-lap (20-kilometres) points race level.
Archibald scored seven points in the first two sprints and then Cure went on the attack.
But all Cure’s effort was in vain as it came down to the final sprint, where double points were available.
Archibald finished fourth for two points to do enough to win with 123 points.
Wild finished ahead of Cure to take silver and the Australian had to settle for bronze.
Archibald added: ‘People always say ... if you win you somehow get the energy. I don’t have that.
‘I crossed the line and it still hurts. I did a (victory) lap and I thought: “Oh no, they’re not cheering any more”. I’m just delighted to win gold.’