Rainbow Warrior Elinor Ready For Berlin Test With Tokyo Looming

Elinor Barker is gearing up for this month’s World Track Championships as she looks to add to her four rainbow jerseys.

Wales’s Olympic champ has been named in GB’s endurance line-up as part of a 20-strong squad for the champs in the German capital.

The champs are the last major test before the Olympics in Tokyo this summer where Barker will be hoping to add to the team pursuit title she won in Rio in 2016.

The 25-year-old said: “I’m really happy to be selected to represent Great Britain at the final world championships before the Olympic Games and have the opportunity to compete for more rainbow jerseys.

“Training has been going well, and it feels like everything is starting to come together for the team now so I’m excited to see how my teammates and I get on in Berlin.”

Barker, second from left, after winning team pursuit gold in Colombia in 2014

Barker has team pursuit titles from the worlds in Minsk in 2013 and Cali the following year.

The Cardiff-born rider claimed her first individual world gold in the point race in Hong Kong in 2015 and last year won the scratch in Pruszkow.

Laura and Jason Kenny, who both have the potential to become Britain’s most successful Olympians should they be selected for Tokyo, have made the world championships squad.

European team pursuit champions Ellie Dickinson and Neah Evans along with senior academy rider Josie Knight complete the women’s endurance squad, while Kian Emadi, Ethan Hayter, Mark Stewart, Charlie Tanfield, Matt Walls and Ollie Wood have made selection for the men’s endurance squad alongside Clancy.

In the sprint events, Jack Carlin and Ryan Owens will join Kenny and Hindes, while Marchant will be joined by Lauren Bate and Sophie Capewell.

Performance Director Stephen Park said: “The world championships in Berlin mark an important milestone on the path to the Olympic Games for the track cyclists and, as has always been our clear intention for this stage of the cycle, our focus now is on those riders who we believe have the potential to win a medal in Tokyo.

“The bar in track cycling is continuously being raised, which is great for keeping the sport healthy, but also means the fight for every medal is much tougher so Berlin will be interesting.

“It’s also a good opportunity for our riders to show the selectors what they’re capable of and to help stake their claim on a place within the Olympic squad.

“Morale within the team is high as the anticipation of an Olympic Games grows, and everyone is looking forward to competing in Berlin.”

The Great Britain Cycling Team for the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, Berlin from February 26 to March 1

Men’s Endurance

Ed Clancy
Kian Emadi
Ethan Hayter
Mark Stewart
Charlie Tanfield
Matt Walls
Ollie Wood

Women’s Endurance

Katie Archibald
Elinor Barker
Eleanor Dickinson
Neah Evans
Laura Kenny
Josie Knight

Men’s Sprint

Jack Carlin
Phil Hindes
Jason Kenny
Ryan Owens

Women’s Sprint

Lauren Bate
Sophie Capewell
Katy Marchant