Team GB in 'good place' after winning two silver medals on opening day of European Track Cycling Championships

Updated 11/01/2024 at 08:18 GMT

Katy Marchant thinks Great Britain are set for success at the 2024 Olympics after a successful start to the European Track Cycling Championships. The Rio 2016 bronze medalist helped Team GB to second place in the women's team sprint, while Will Tidball claimed a silver in the men's elimination race. Marchant believes it's a terrific start to a huge year, with gold medals in Paris the main target.

Tidball takes silver as Hansen wins men's elimination race at European Track Cycling Championships

Katy Marchant believes Great Britain's cyclists are "in a really good place" after winning two medals on day one of the European Track Cycling Championships in the Netherlands.

Marchant was part of the women's team sprint quartet, alongside Sophie Capewell, Emma Finucane and Lowri Thomas.

They couldn't quite topple first-placed Germany, but silver still marks a strong start to 2024 for Team GB, who have set their sights on glory at this summer's Olympic Games in France.

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Marchant is confident they can continue their success in Paris, as they look to follow up on the glory of Tokyo 2020, where Britain topped the cycling medal table.

"We’ve just got to keep working and concentrate on ourselves," she is quoted as saying by the BBC.

"We keep pushing the Germans to almost breaking world records every time we come up against them, if not breaking world records, so it's really exciting.

"We have a long-term goal, obviously that's Paris, and we're confident in our ability. I think as a team we’re in a really good place.”

Finucane believes Great Britain have what it takes to squeeze in front of Germany this summer.

"We are coming. We are not far off, so I am really excited.

"We nailed our processes and put down a time that we are really proud of."

Success in the women's team sprint was followed by Will Tidball winning silver in the men's elimination, where he came second to Tobias Hansen of Denmark.

The 23-year old, who was crowned scratch race world champion in 2023, is widely expected to make his Olympic debut this summer.

Tidball takes silver as Hansen wins men's elimination race at European Track Cycling Championships

"It is a good start to 2024," he said. "I am excited, it's a big year. After winning the worlds last year, that was massive.

"If you had told me last year that I'd be getting a medal at the Euros I'd probably be happy, but the fact I'm a bit disappointed shows the standard I am going for now."

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