Cycling gold medalist Katie Archibald has talked about the nervousness and pressures during international competitions in the build-up to the Track World Championship. She revealed that after winning medals, it is tough to “switch off” feelings and prepare for what is ahead. She also said that there is no guarantee that you are going to come on top even if you wake up with a clear mind and feel good waking up on the morning of the race. The Track World Championship will take place from 20-24 October in Roubaix, France.
Katie Archibald, Olympic Gold Medalist, Cycling
The biggest stress I've always found are individual targets, so for me that would be the omnium at this World Championships. But I just took the European title, and I have been omnium world champion during the last Olympic cycle. We often have conversations with team-mates about holding on to the fence at race start - I can see my arm shaking before the gun, but then it all kind of just floats away. I've certainly been the recipient of those unimaginable good days, where you can't place a finger on why you can't do it in training. I try to keep a conscious diary of when those moments are. Usually, the gun goes and it's like: 'Oh my goodness, this is what I was built to do.' It's a feeling I chase all the time.
