Welsh star Emma Finucane Proud After Leading New-Look GB Team to Silver at World Championships

The 21-year-old from Carmarthen, already one of Britain’s brightest stars on the track, was the only returning member from the squad that struck gold at last year’s Worlds. 

This time, she led debutants Iona Moir and Rhianna Parris-Smith to a remarkable silver on the opening night of competition.

The trio qualified fastest, narrowly ahead of the powerful Dutch team, and comfortably saw off Colombia to reach the gold-medal final. 

However, the Netherlands — represented by Kimberley Kalee, Hetty van de Wouw and Steffie van der Peet — proved too strong in the decider, finishing 0.667 seconds clear.

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Despite missing out on retaining the world title, Finucane, who will chase her third consecutive individual sprint crown later this week, was full of admiration for her young teammates.

“I’m so proud of these two [Parris-Smith and Moir], it’s their first world championships and to go out there in the gold medal ride off, be composed, feel the pressure,” she said.

“I’ve been there before and it’s really hard, so to be lining up next to these two I’m really proud and we couldn’t have asked for more.”

Finucane’s medal adds to an already glittering résumé that includes three medals from Paris 2024 and back-to-back world titles in the individual sprint. 

Her latest podium finish also means Great Britain have medalled in the women’s team sprint at three consecutive World Championships — a run she has played a leading part in.

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The Welsh rider’s success set the tone for an encouraging start to the week for Britain’s track squad, who also claimed silver in the men’s team sprint.

Matthew Richardson, competing at his first Worlds in a Great Britain skinsuit after previously riding for Australia, led Joe Truman and Harry Ledingham-Horn to second place behind a dominant Dutch trio spearheaded by multiple world champion Harrie Lavreysen.

“Coming away with a silver medal is bittersweet but for me, my first medal at a world championships in GB skin suit is going to feel amazing. I wish it was the top step, but I can’t come away too mad about that,” said Richardson.

Truman added: “I’m really happy, it’s the closest we’ve ever been to the Dutch and it’s a really positive first step in the cycle [to the LA Olympics in 2028]. We were up on them all the way to the last half lap so I think it’s a very good start and it’s exciting for what we can crack on with going forward.”

Elsewhere, Maddie Leech impressed on her Worlds debut with a sixth-place finish in the women’s scratch race, while the British women’s team pursuit squad — featuring three Welsh women in Meg Barker, Anna Morris and Jess Roberts, alongside Josie Knight — qualified second-fastest for the next round as they look to defend their title.

Finucane will turn her focus to the individual sprint on Thursday, aiming to make it three global titles in a row — a feat that would further cement her status as one of Wales’ most accomplished cyclists and a leading figure in world sprinting.