Great Britain’s Junior Women took gold in the Team Pursuit at the UCI World Juniors Track Cycling Championships in Glasgow, breaking the world record twice in the process.
(L-R) Emily Nelson, Amy Hill, Hayley Jones and Emily Kay Junior World Team Pursuit Champions
Wales’ Hayley Jones, 17, Amy Hill, 18 and Emily Nelson, 16, were joined by Great Britain team mate Emily Kay, 17, in the event. The new look format has increased from three women over three kilometres, to four women over kilometres to bring it on par with the male event.
The British quartet qualified fastest in the afternoon session breaking the world record with a time of 4:38.708, which was by no means easy as Hayley Jones, from Port Talbot, explained, “We were definitely fatigued from this afternoon’s ride. I gave it everything I got, especially on my last turn. I just thought ‘leave it all on the track’ and I think we definitely did!”
The Women’s Team Pursuit final was the closing event on day two of competition at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. Great Britain faced Russia in the battle for gold, but the riders weren’t fazed by the experience as they broke their own world record clocking a time of 4:35.085.
Newport’s Amy Hill felt the crowd’s in Glasgow powered them to victory, “The crowd were screaming us around the track. Every time Hayley or Emily hit the front, I just thought keep going! The crowd definitely carried me around.”
The Welsh trio are all part of the Welsh Cycling Junior Programme, and regularly train at Newport Velodrome. Hayley Jones, Emily Nelson and Emily Kay are also part of the British Cycling Olympic Development Programme under coach Matt Winston. Amy Hill has had a successful season, winning the Energiewacht Tour in The Netherlands in the spring, and continuing to develop as she took a bronze medal in the British Women’s National Circuit Race Championships.
Hayley Jones and Amy Hill will both compete in the Individual Pursuit on Friday 9 August, with Hayley returning to the track again on Saturday 10 August in the Women’s Points Race.
The Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome will host the track cycling events at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Wales are preparing for competition in less than twelve months, beginning with the UCI Track World Cup, Manchester in November.
Welsh Cycling will be recognising the achievements of our athletes and volunteers at an awards evening on Friday 4th October. To nominate your cycling hero, visit www.welshcycligng.co.uk
Full report and results from Great Britain at the UCI World Juniors Track Cycling Championships can be found at www.britishcycling.org.uk
