Elinor Barker Says Her Racing Tactics Have Never Been Better

Wales’ Olympic champion Elinor Barker believes she is setting new standards after taking gold for Great Britain at the Track World Cup.

The 22-year-old, who was part of Team GB’s team pursuit in Rio, won the women’s points event in Apeldoorn, Holland, at the weekend as she stormed into a lead and kept herself ahead of the challengers by taking consistent points during the sprints.

She beat Minami Uwano of Japan by six points to secure gold and continue a fine run of form.

“That is probably the best I’ve ever performed in a points race tactically, so I’m very proud of that,” said Barker.

“It was a tough race with some really strong riders racing – including Emily Nelson, who gave everyone a hard time.”

In the women’s sprint, Rachel James –  older sister of Wales’ double Olympic silver medallist Becky – reached the quarter-final stage, where she was beaten by Olena Starikova of the Ukraine.

Becky James has opted to take an extended post-Olympic break before building up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, where she hopes to reform her team sprint partnership with Rachel as part of the Wales team.

She expects to begin training again in the new year. Having taken two bronze medals in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi at the age of 18, she missed Glasgow in 2014 because of a knee injury.