SANTIAGO, October 26 (Reuters): Britain’s Katie Archibald and Maddie Leech produced a superb late surge to win gold in the women’s Madison at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships on Saturday, holding off France and Italy after a crash ended the Netherlands’ hopes.
Archibald, a two-time Olympic champion, and Leech finished with 30 points, ahead of France’s Victoire Berteau and Marion Borras on 24. Italy’s Chiara Consonni and Vittoria Guazzini took bronze with 20 points.
Despite an early deficit, 31-year-old Archibald and 22-year-old Leech combined precise timing and strong teamwork to take control in the final laps. Archibald previously won Olympic gold in the Madison at the Tokyo Games alongside now-retired Laura Kenny. She also took silver earlier in the week in the women’s elimination race, which was won by Ireland’s Lara Gillespie.
The Madison race turned chaotic when Dutch rider Lorena Wiebes, already a double gold medallist at the championships, crashed heavily with teammate Lisa van Belle midway through the event, forcing the pair to withdraw.
British dominance continues in individual pursuit
Britain’s Anna Morris extended the team’s dominance with gold in the women’s individual pursuit, leading a British one-two finish ahead of Josie Knight. American Chloe Dygert secured bronze.
Morris defended her world title with a commanding performance, finishing in 4:27.005 — 2.3 seconds ahead of Knight. The Welsh rider, who holds the world record, maintained a smooth and steady rhythm throughout the race to claim her second consecutive world championship.
The report was originally published by Reuters.
