"It has been a true honour" - British cycling legend Katie Archibald announces retirement

Great Britain track star Katie Archibald has announced her retirement from the national team after an extraordinary career defined by success and consistency at the top of track cycling. At 31, Archibald draws a line under a 13-year journey as one of Britain’s most decorated riders, leaving an indelible legacy on and off the velodrome.

A triple Olympic medallist and the reigning world and European champion, the Scottish star bows out as part of the squad that holds the women’s team pursuit world record. Her path into cycling was late and almost accidental. She first approached the sport for its social side, racing grass track events in Scotland, but her talent quickly caught the eye of British coaches. In 2013, at just 19, she joined Great Britain’s track endurance programme.

She made an immediate impact. On her senior international debut, she won the European team pursuit title alongside Laura Kenny, Dani Rowe and Elinor Barker. From there, a stream of victories followed that made her a global reference. Even before her first Olympic Games at Rio 2016, she had already claimed six European titles, a world championship and multiple international medals.

Across her career, Archibald amassed 51 medals from the Olympic Games, World Championships, European Championships and Commonwealth Games. Her palmarès features two Olympic golds, one Olympic silver, seven world titles and a record 21 European titles. She also shone at the British National Championships, taking 12 track titles and the national road criterium crown in 2017.

One of her defining moments came at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she and Laura Kenny won the inaugural women’s Madison Olympic gold. Another landmark performance arrived at Glasgow 2023, the first multi-discipline Worlds hosted in Scotland, where she led Great Britain to the women’s team pursuit world title, the nation’s first since 2014—the very year she earned her first rainbow jersey.

Her journey was also shaped by adversity. An injury a few weeks before the Paris 2024 Olympics ruled her out of the Games, though she returned later that year to help the British team reclaim the team pursuit world title.

In a British Cycling statement, Archibald reflected on her career and relationship with the sport: “I love racing my bike. After 13 years competing on the international stage, and a lifetime competing against my older brother, I’ve decided to retire from the former.”

The Scot also highlighted the pride she felt representing Great Britain: “Being part of the Great Britain team meant being part of something bigger than myself, and it has been a true honour to race alongside the best riders in the country.”

She also wanted to emphasise experiences beyond the victories: “I’m grateful for everything I’ve been able to learn, everything I’ve seen, and all the incredible people I’ve met.”