Elinor Barker Blames Holiday Mode For Missing Out On Third World Medal

Elinor Barker admitted she had already gone into holiday mode after just missing out on a third medal at the World Track Championships in Poland.

The Cardiff-born rider and partner Neah Evans finished fourth in the Madison – losing out on the bronze to a late attack from Denmark in Pruszkow.

Barker had been drafted in to partner Evans after Katie Archibald was forced to withdraw with concussion following a crash in the points race of the Omnium the day before.

But Barker was probably not fully prepared for the event thinking her championships were over following her gold in the Scratch and silver in the Team Pursuit.

Elinor Barker after winning scratch race gold in Poland. Pic Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com –

“No, I wasn’t really [prepared for the race], I’d gone into holiday mode already a little bit and never thought I’d be doing [the race],” said Olympic champ Barker afterwards.

“I probably should have got my head in the game a little bit more when Katie did the omnium, which also wasn’t expected, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up too high and then I just wasn’t very prepared for it if I’m honest. Which is my own fault really.”

Archibald was not due to ride the Omnium but took the place of fellow Olympic champ Laura Kenny who withdrew after the quartet missed out on Team Pursuit gold.

But it still might have been another medal at the worlds for Barker – she has already amassed 10 in her career in cluding four golds – but for the Danish attack.

“They had a really good jump and I just couldn’t go with it, I was right next to them,” added Barker. “We knew it was going to happen within 40 laps, they’ve done it throughout the world cup season. So yeah, really disappointed with that moment actually.”

Barker’s victory in the scratch race was the only gold medal won by Britain at the championships.