That’s Just Mad: Jess And Megan Power To European Games Gold

Jess Roberts and Megan Barker struck gold with a stunning ride in the madison at the European Games in Minsk.

The duo had already been part of a quartet that had won silver in the team pursuit earlier in the Games.

But they capped a memorable few days in the Belarus capital by adding to Team GBs medal haul.

The Welsh prospects finished with 44 points to win by four points from the Dutch duo of Kirsten Wild – who already had two gold medals – and Amber van der Hulst with Russia third.

“It was our target to create a big gap between us and the other competitors, so we started immediately, quickly winning two sprints.

“After taking a lap, we kept on holding our position,” said Cardiff-born Barker, whose sister Elinor, a world and Olympic champ on the track, was competing in the National Road Race on Sunday.

And Roberts dismissed the crash involving van der Hurst as they celebrated the gold medal.

“It didn’t affect us too much because we were ahead,” said the Carmarthen-born rider.

“It was a very important Games for us. We won two medals and it was the moment to test our preparation for the track cycling season.

Roberts was within one point of making it three medals as she just missed out in the omnium finishing fourth on Saturday as Wild took gold.