Joe Holt, Meg Barker And Jess Roberts Lead The Way At European U23 Track Championships

Once again the Team Pursuit turned into one of British cycling’s strongest suits at the European Under 23 track championships in Aigle, Switzerland.

The 20-year-old rising Welsh star Joe Holt made it back-to-back gold medals as he joined forces with Matthew Bostock, Matt Walls and Fred Wright to retain the title, while Welsh duo Meg Barker and Jess Roberts teamed up with Jenny Holl and Rebecca Raybould to strike silver in the women’s event behind Italy.

Barker and Roberts also doubled up to take silver again in the Madison event, while Barker was disappointed not to bring back more than a bronze in the Omnium.

“It was a busy week of racing with two silvers and a bronze. It was hard not to be a little disappointed after a crash in the final event of the Omnium, but I gave it everything I could,” said Barker.

Roberts finished sixth in the individual pursuit, with Barker eight, while Holt was ninth in the Elimination Race. Rhys Britton finished eighth in U23 1k time trial.

Earlier in Aigle, Team Wales rider Ethan Vernon picked up a silver medal in the Junior Championships in the Individual Pursuit as he was pipped by Russia’s Lev Gonov.

There was a bronze for the Welsh duo of Elynor Backstedt and Ela Barnwell in the Team Pursuit.

Barnwell also finished seventh in the Scratch Race and ninth in the Keirin.