Katie Archibald says Six Day Manchester helped her recapture her love of track cycling as she led a dominant home display at the inaugural event.
The 25-year-old followed up Friday’s omnium victory with deserved overall victory, holding off a late charge from Britain’s most decorate female Olympian Laura Kenny.
Archibald, team pursuit Olympic gold medallist in Rio alongside Kenny, relished hitting the boards at the National Cycling Centre – where she trains each and every day.
“We train on that track so it’s a strange juxtaposition of familiarity with this extreme sense of grandeur that goes with it, it makes it a very special weekend,” said the Scot.
“I feel very happy. I’ve stood on stage and someone poured champagne all over me so I’m trying to live in the moment right now.
“At events like this its bam, bam, bam all the time, you just carry such a high. You really remember what you love about the sport so, if I could, I’d be racing all the time.”
Archibald’s victory in the opening 20km Madison, with partner Neah Evans to the fore, helped stymie Laura Kenny’s charge for the title that began in earnest on Saturday.
Kenny finished second in the general classification, with Evans, Emily Nelson and Elinor Barker coming fourth, fifth and sixth overall.
And there was another Scot atop the rostrum as Jack Carlin held off six-time Olympic champion Jason Kenny to claim sprint glory.
Carlin, twice silver medallist at the 2018 Track World Championships, soared to a second sprint final victory to end five points ahead of Kenny with 138 overall.
“It’s been an enjoyable three days,” said the Commonwealth Games medallist.
“It’s been really fun, the crowd has been great. There’s more to come from Manchester in the next few years.
“It’s a big confidence boost, given just how closely fought the Great Britain team is.
“Everyone is at such a high level that it’s important to get your name out there and this has helped me do that.”
Sportsbeat 2019