Change of approach required for GB cyclists

Scots cyclist Neah Evans says Britain’s team pursuit stars had to rip up their data-driven approach at the European Championships after grinding out a fourth-place finish in Munich.

Evans, Josie Knight, Jess Roberts, Anna Morris and Pfeiffer Georgi were unable to battle past France in the bronze medal showdown and cap a whirlwind week at the multi-sport German event.

Upon arrival, the team – and every British rider – was confronted with a radical 200m track with virtually no straights and corners that gave riders “whiplash”.

The women’s team pursuit squad, spearheaded by Olympic silver medallist and five-time European champion Evans, qualified in fourth on Thursday before defeat against Germany yesterday teed up a clash for bronze with the French.

But they were comfortably beaten under the Messe velodrome lights as experienced Evans, and her newlook team, struggled to adapt to the unfamiliar and significantly shortened conditions.

Evans had no complaints but admits they were forced to go in blind to an event usually dominated by maximising fine margins and the appliance of sporting science.

The three-time World Championship medallist, 32, said: “You could see the difference with the track in our first training session. “We thought it would be a bit different to normal but we literally hit the first bend and were like, ‘Oh my God.’

“It’s really bizarre – coming out of turn two pulls you down to the back and then turn three rolls you up.

“Because it’s so short, there’s almost like a whiplash effect and any movement is massively magnified.”

Elsewhere in the Munich velodrome, Jack Carlin led Britain’s team sprinters to a hard-fought bronze to gear up for his individual event this weekend. The two-time Olympic medallist, 25, sped on to the podium alongside fellow Scot Alistair Fielding and Hamish Turnbull by beating Poland after an initial win against Spain.

Anna Morris, Josie Knight, Jessica Roberts and Neah Evans in action during the bronze medal match.