Cycling World Championships 2023: Emma Finucane claims first major title with gold in women's sprint

Great Britain's Emma Finucane claimed her first major title as she took gold in the women's sprint at the Cycling World Championships in Glasgow.

Finucane put in a superb ride to beat Germany's Lea Friedrich in the first two races of their best-of-three final.

The 20-year-old's solo success came after she helped the British team to women's team sprint silver on Thursday.

Finucane becomes the first British winner in the discipline since Becky James' triumph in Minsk in 2013.

Away from the velodrome, GB's Felix Barrow claimed a bronze in the men's T2 individual time trial.

In a closely-contested race on the 10.8km course in Dumfries and Galloway, Barrow was less than nine seconds off the gold won by Germany's Max Jager and finished two seconds behind Belgium's Tim Celen, who collected the silver medal.

A GB quartet of Oliver Weightman, Charlie Rolls, Adam Morewood and Elliot Cooper also took a bronze in the trials mixed team event.

However there was disappointment for home favourites Katie Archibald and Jack Carlin, who both missed out on medals having been strongly fancied to contend on the track.

'I knew what I wanted to do'

After James and Victoria Pendleton, Finucane is only the third British winner in the women's sprint and had showcased her fine individual form by riding the fastest-ever 200m by a woman at sea level on Monday.

And, although she crashed out in the quarter-finals of the women's keirin on Sunday, that only served to motivate her further.

"I had the legs but over three days you really have to focus," Finucane told BBC Sport.

"Another side of me came out today and it definitely paid off. I gave everything I could on the track in that final and I am super proud.

"I definitely wasn't cool and calm. I was so nervous deep down. I had to go to the toilets a couple of times to reset. I wanted to go up there and be aggressive but I knew what I wanted to do. We will celebrate tonight for sure."

In Wednesday's earlier rounds, she had seen off the challenge of another German, outsprinting last year's world bronze medallist Emma Hinze.

Hinze subsequently missed out on third place as New Zealand's Ellesse Andrews took the final spot on the podium.

Home favourites fall short

Archibald, world champion two years ago, delivered a gutsy display in the points race but simply left herself with too much to do in the women's omnium.

She began the final event on the track in eighth position - 46 points adrift of American leader Jennifer Valente and 24 points behind France's Valentine Fortin in third.

But while she was able to overhaul Fortin her efforts told as Belgium's Lotte Kopecky came through to win bronze, with Denmark's Amalie Dideriksen taking the silver behind Valente, who successfully defended her crown.

Speaking on BBC Three, six-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy said, "I think Katie Archibald will reflect and think 'I'm glad I am here to show Glasgow what I am made of'", after his fellow Scot suffered illness, a succession of injuries and the loss of her partner Rab Wardell in 2022.

Archibald's strength of character and emotions were clearly evident as she helped GB to women's team pursuit gold last Saturday, with British Cycling performance director Stephen Park saying: "She's had an incredibly tough year.

"For those of us who have found ourselves in those situations at different times, you know, just getting through the day and getting on with it again tomorrow is tough.

"We so admire the resilience that she's shown to get up every day, get back on the bike, get back into training and be in a position to turn up here, really get out and deliver her best - and to honour Rab."

Meanwhile, in a high quality men's keirin final, Scottish rider Carlin found himself boxed in, and out of position.

Carlin, who has won three world silvers, ended up trailing home in fifth as Colombia's Kevin Quintero surged to gold.

Britain's Will Perrett also fell just short in the men's point race, coming fifth as New Zealand's Aaron Gate won the 160-lap affair a decade on from his last world title in the omnium.

GB on course for Paris success?

Great Britain's five track golds, and nine medals overall, topped the table as the track programme in Glasgow concluded, with the Netherlands and the United States the next best nations with four and three golds respectively.

Hosts GB also finished well clear in the para-track events with their 18 golds more than double the amount of France, who are second on the medal table with seven.

Both Finucane and Hoy believe the British team is well-placed with the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics around the corner.

"It is super exciting for next year, I feel we have the momentum now. We are coming for sure," Finucane said.

Hoy added: "The World Championships before an Olympic Games is a big deal. It's difficult to predict what other nations are going to bring.

"It's your last chance to show what bikes and equipment you're going to race at the Olympics, so this is the highest standard you're going to see at a World Championships.

"I think Britain have done really well. We are behind in certain events, but we are - across the board - I think the strongest track nation in the world.

"Particularly with other events, like the BMX, the mountain biking, the road, put it all together - I think we are still the top nation in the world."