Great Britain struck gold at the UCI Junior Track World Championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, as Kristian Larigo, Archie Gill and Ioan Hepburn won the men’s team sprint to secure the squad’s first rainbow jerseys of the week.
A 15-strong Great Britain Cycling Team, featuring 10 European champions, is currently competing at the championships, which run until Sunday 24 August in Apeldoorn.
Fastest from the gun
The British trio set the tone in qualifying, recording the fastest time and becoming one of only two teams to dip under 45 seconds.
In the first round, a clean start saw the Brits open a near-half-second lead within the opening 125 metres. Gill extended the advantage further, and Hepburn stopped the clock at 44.209 to book a place in the gold-medal ride by a commanding 2.4 seconds.
Composed under pressure in the final
Facing South Korea for the title, Great Britain trailed through the first half of the final. Staying composed as gaps appeared, Gill closed the deficit before Hepburn brought the team to the front on the last lap. The finish time of 44.471 sealed the world crown—adding to the European title the trio already hold.
It is a statement victory for Great Britain’s juniors and a powerful start to the team’s world championship campaign.
Main Image: For illustration only. Image created with AI.
