Britain take women’s team sprint silver as men exit early in Shanghai

Great Britain won silver in the women's team sprint at the World Track Cycling Championships in Shanghai, while the men's squad went out in the first round of head-to-head racing. BBC Sport reported the contrasting results on an opening day that also saw both British team pursuit squads advance from qualifying.

Emma Finucane, Sophie Capewell and Rhianna Parris-Smith set the quickest time in women's team sprint qualifying. The British trio then defeated France to reach the race for gold, where hosts China beat them to the title. Their silver came after a progression through qualifying and the subsequent rounds that had put Britain in contention for the top step of the podium.

The men's campaign ended earlier. Joe Truman, Ed Lowe and Harry Ledingham-Horn were fifth in qualifying, leaving them to face an Australian team that had ranked fourth. Australia won their opening head-to-head contest, eliminating Britain. The result followed a late alteration to the British line-up after Matt Richardson was withdrawn from the championships on Monday.

According to the BBC, Richardson was pulled from the competition amid allegations of misconduct and said he would co-operate with a British Cycling investigation. The 27-year-old had also been expected to challenge for medals in the individual sprint and keirin. The allegations remain the subject of an investigation; the report did not describe a finding against him.

Truman acknowledged that the late change had complicated preparations, but said the riders had focused on racing and producing a time they could take pride in at the start of Olympic qualification. He stressed that professional athletes prepare to compete even when circumstances are difficult. Despite the early exit, he expressed confidence in the team's position over the next couple of years.

There were further British results elsewhere in Shanghai on day one. The women's team pursuit squad qualified fastest, while the men's squad recorded the second-fastest qualifying performance, with both progressing in their events. In the women's scratch race, Abigail Miller finished 17th in a field of 24 riders, completing another of Britain's opening-day results.