Barker Powers To World Track Championships Gold

Elinor Barker paid tribute to her Cardiff cycling roots after being crowned World Points Track Champion in Hong Kong on Sunday.

The 22-year-old Olympic and world team pursuit champ bagged her first major individual title in the velodrome after a storming finish.

And Barker took time out of her celebrations, to remember where it all began for her at the Maindy Flyers club at the age of 10.

Barker said: “I maybe didn’t think it would happen, but I certainly never thought there was a ceiling on how I could do.

“That was based on the kind of people that went through Maindy Flyers and the kind of success they had.

“Geraint (Thomas), Luke (Rowe), Nicole (Cooke), Owain (Doull) and all those other various people that are doing so well I never thought it would be out of my reach.

“They had the same coaches and the same experiences, so why not? I suppose. I’m really grateful to those coaches. Alan Davies, in particular, is a volunteer.

“He just puts so much work and effort in. There were a couple of years when I thought about quitting, that typical thing.

Barker, who started cycling aged 10 as a way of skipping swimming classes at the nearby pool, added: “I got to age 14 and thought ‘do I want to be doing this?

“Or would I rather be going out and experiencing what it’s like to be 14, rather than being dressed in Lycra’.

“He (Alan) just made it so much more fun and so much more enjoyable than I thought it would be.

“I think if I hadn’t been at Maindy Flyers or a similar level team, then, no, I wouldn’t be here.

Barker triumphed having already narrowly missed out in the scratch race and also taken silver with Emily Nelson in the madison.

She added: “I’m just incredibly happy. This feels so special.

“Until the last few laps it was looking like another silver. I’m so happy it was a gold.

“I’ve come so close so many times! I feel like I’m a constant bridesmaid. But It was awful to ride! Absolutely horrible.

“It’s incredible to have that feeling of being the best in the world.”

Barker took the lead after winning two successive sprints in the race which involved a sprint at the end of every 10 laps.

She had also worked with American Sarah Hammer to claim an extra 20 points for gaining a lap on the field.

But the veteran American then gained another lap by herself to grab the lead with time running out in the 100 lap race.

Barker responded to claim 20 points herself and ensure she finished ahead of Hammer in the final sprint.

And she added: “I was sick with worry and I was seriously running out of laps. I think it was six to go.

“My coach just shouted ‘sprint’ which I think was the only thing I could do. If I didn’t sprint I was never going to get there. It was just about trying to get to Hammer.”