"We made history": How Team GB laid the foundations for a women's team sprint dynasty

Cycling Track 30 Oct 24

Olympic champions, world champions and now ANOC 'Best Female Team' award winners, Katy Marchant, Sophie Capewell and Emma Finucane have had quite the year.

The trio beat New Zealand in the women's team sprint gold medal race at Paris 2024, smashing the world record in the process to win Britain’s first ever Olympic women’s team sprint title and medal.

Just two months later, they were back on the track at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Ballerup to add the world title to their list of accolades.

For their success on the track, Marchant, Capewell and Finucane collected the Best Female Team Award at the prestigious ANOC Awards, to cap a year that was not just dominating, it was revolutionary.

"I am honestly so proud," said Finucane, following their Olympic gold winning exploits.

"We nailed that ride. I believed in us that we could do it but to actually execute it and celebrate. I have never celebrated like that in my life."

Marchant, Capewell and Finucane arrived in Paris as medal contenders, alongside the powerhouses of Germany and China, but in qualifying they gave a clue as to their form by instantly breaking the world record, lowering the standard in the next round once again.

In the final, Rebecca Petch started like a rocket and led New Zealand to a 0.133s first-lap lead. But her teammates struggled to keep up and, by the time Petch peeled off, Britain were in the lead.

Capewell, riding second, went round in a blistering 13.260s to turn the deficit into a 0.266s advantage, before handing over to Finucane. New Zealand, frankly, had no chance and Britain clinched the title in a new world standard of 45.186s.

"We knew we were in a really good position and capable of a world record," said Marchant.

"The competiton was hot and it was fantastic to be apart of. We managed to execute perfectly and we couldn't be happier.

"We made history! We are now Olympic champions and it makes the 11 years of hard work worth it."

The ANOC Awards are an annual showcase in place to recognise and honour the achievements of the National Olympic Committees and their athletes as well as distinguished members of the Olympic Family.

Marchant, Capewell and Finucane were presented the Best Female Team award at this year's ceremony in Cascais.

And after ending their history-making season on the track as Olympic and world champions, Capewell admitted their focus must now shift to a fresh summit to scale.

"This team sprint has been almost the bane of our existence," she said. "We've known we have the talent here, there and everywhere, and it never seemed to come together.

"This project is no longer a project. We're going to need a new one."

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