“I’m finally back for Nationals, and ready to rebuild” – Britain’s golden rider Katie Archibald ready to put Paris Olympic injury behind her
Track Cycling
Katie Archibald, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, is
making her return to the British National Track Championships after a six-year
absence. The 30-year-old missed last year’s Olympic Games due to a freak accident in
which she broke bones in her leg after a garden fall. Archibald, who won gold
in the team pursuit in Rio and the Madison in Tokyo, is also a six-time world
champion and a 20-time European champion.
Reflecting on her long absence, Archibald shared her
thoughts with Cycling Weekly. “I really don’t know how this has
happened,” she said. “I kind of saw myself as someone that really loved riding
Nationals, it’s my favourite thing to turn up to, and it’s always meant it’s
got this real big, emotional attachment to it."
Archibald emphasised the importance of the British National
Track Championships as a stepping stone for many riders. “For so many people
that’s your breakthrough," she said, "because as an amateur you can
turn up to Nationals and beat and it’s nice to be part of that journey for
other people, I suppose, or to defend your stature as somebody that made
it."
Despite her success, other priorities have kept Archibald
away from the competition in recent years. “The way things have conspired,
there’s always been something else to prioritise. Perhaps it’s a reflection of
a good reset that I’m finally back for Nationals, and ready to rebuild.”
Archibald has undergone a significant break and reassessment
of her long-term goals. “I’ve had a big break, and a big sort of reassessment
of long-term goals,” she explained. “I’m in this sweet spot where I’ve got no
intention in terms of tackling a massive road season. All of my goals are in
the latter half of the year, around Worlds in October and the winter TCL."
For Archibald, the Nationals represent an opportunity to
reconnect with her roots. “I guess I want to be able to race the Nationals to –
this sounds really cheesy – reconnect to what it was like before, when this
would have been the main goal of my season. I’m looking forward to it.”
She acknowledges the demands of the Olympic cycle but
remains focused on her ultimate goal. “I guess it’s just a standard pattern of
the Olympic cycle that you dedicate your resources into the pointy end,” she
said. “I know really clearly that I want to go to the LA games.
"But you can’t
pull a foot over the bed and think every day about something that’s four years
away. The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2026 is a really, really exciting
thing in my season planning for the next two years on.”
In addition to her track ambitions, Archibald has been
enjoying mountain biking. “If I’m honest, a lot of what I’ve been doing is
riding my mountain bike,” she said. “So I’m playing around with the idea of
entering some of the local cross country races to see how that can buttress my
season.”
Archibald’s return to the Nationals marks a significant
moment in her career, as she seeks to build towards the World Championships
later this year and ultimately, the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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