Back towards her old self and back on top of the podium, Laura Kenny's cycling comeback may just be nearing completion. Not even a year has passed since she gave birth to son Albie but that didn’t stop the four-time Olympic champion regaining her rightful place atop the podium, securing her 11th European Track Cycling Championship title in Glasgow. But she was far from alone in her venture, Katie Archibald joining her on 11 gold medals while fellow Olympic champion Elinor Barker, Neah Evans and Ellie Dickinson orchestrated a well-rehearsed team pursuit operation in beating Italy. Great Britain have won the event on both occasions it has been an Olympic discipline, with few surprised as they took their place atop the podium in the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. But even Kenny knows there is still more to come - despite crossing the line nearly nine seconds ahead of their counterparts in a time of 4:16.896.
“For me personally I don't feel fully fit yet, what I compare to is Rio and it seems a long way from that, it took me two years to get to that,” she said.
“I'm not there just yet but I certainly feel much better than I did at the World Championships and I feel more like myself.
"The Italians qualified well yesterday and then held up a really good second ride, so you just never know what people are going to come with in the final.
“They're a really strong team and they've really improved over the past two years.
“It's great to see that the level is getting higher and higher and it certainly pushes us to go quicker, that's why it's great to come here to what feels like a home Championships and come away with a win.”
With Britain’s track cycling record becoming formidable in recent years, it’s easy to see why jealousy could be the overriding emotion from the rest of the world ever since London 2012.
No fewer than seven gold medals were picked up – with no other nation securing more than one – while four years later the team were up to their old tricks, six the tally at Rio 2016.
That included an Olympic title for Kenny, Archibald, Barker and Joanna Rowsell Shand in the team pursuit, a world record time of 4:10.246 also coming their way.
And it’s success the home crowds have latched on to also, with Scot Archibald in particular thrilled with the raucous reception they received at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.
“We've got a corner filled with Scottish flags and one Welsh flag as well,” she said.
“Track cycling is so big in the UK that it feels like a home event, there's so many velodromes here that we get this so often.
“We get this kind of support all over and it's something that the other nations envy. I think both of the teams competing here today will be looking towards the rest of the season looking not just to outdo each other but to outdo the rest of the world.”
Picture: SWpix.com
Sportsbeat 2018