Bell and Richardson seal hat-trick of sprint titles

On the final day of the Manchester British Track Cycling Championships, Lauren Bell and Matthew Richardson won a hat-trick of sprint medals.

Scotland’s Bell won the women’s individual sprint to go with her team sprint and keirin victories, while England’s Richardson won the men’s keirin to complete the men’s sprinting set.

Bell said: “Nationals are always such a great event – there’s always sold-out crowds. It’s nice to have my family in the crowd to cheer me on, it’s great.

I was anticipating that I had strong legs. I have the ability to move quickly and have already begun to develop my tactics. I tried to take each race as it came, and this is the result. “

After winning two silver and bronze medals for Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Richardson made his comeback there by resigning from his previous country.

” I set this as one of my goals, “he said”. I was confident in my ability to accomplish my goals, but doing it and saying it are two entirely different things.

Katie Archibald, competing at the championships for the first time in six years, stormed to a dominant victory in the women’s points race.

The two-time Olympian finished with 47 points, 37 clear of Danielle Watkinson and Cat Ferguson, who won silver and bronze, respectively, in the sprints that five of the eight competitors had done.

” I’m very happy about a plan well executed. The fact I’ve been away for so long has made me very motivated for the nationals, “said Archibald.

I’m the person that people want to overthrow, but being in that company and being a part of it is still nice.

Elsewhere, Noah Hobbs won the men’s scratch race ahead of defending champion Sam Fisher and William Gilbank.