Cycling news - Team GB top medal table on first night of Euros
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Updated 16/10/2019 at 21:37 GMT
Emily Nelson produced a startling ride to take the first gold medal of the European Track Championships in Apeldoorn.
British Emily Nelson (R) celebrates after winning the women's scratch final at the European track cycling championship in Apeldoorn, on October 16, 2019. (Photo by Vincent Jannink / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo by VINCENT JANNINK/ANP/AFP via Getty
Image credit: Getty Images
Nelson arrived in the Netherlands as the reigning world madison champion - along with Kate Archibald - but had never won a European gold, having finished second in the same event three years ago.
In the solo scratch race, the 22-year-old hit the front of the chasing back with four laps to go as Anita Steinberg and Charlotte Becker tried to hold off the field.
But Becker was soon caught and defending champion Kirsten Wild left her charge to late, allowing leader Nelson to beat Ireland's Shannon McCurley to gold.
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Nelson hangs on for scratch Euros gold
There was more success for Team GB in the men's team sprint but they had to settle for silver as the Dutch continued their domination of the event.
Jack Carlin, Jason Kenny and Ryan Owens were within a quarter of a second of the Netherlands, the defending European and world champions, but the final was a different story.
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World champions Netherlands retain European title
The Brits held their own for the first two laps but were blown away in the final 250 metres as the men in orange ended up triumphing by nearly seven tenths of a second, while Gregory Bauge led France to bronze over Germany.
Their double medal means Team GB are top of the table along with the hosts Netherlands, who also picked up a bronze medal in the women's team sprint.
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Viviani blows Coquard away in Euros elimination race
Anastasia Voynova and Daria Shmeleva took gold for Russia in that event despite qualifying fourth, as they switched out Ekaterina Rogovaya to bring in four-time world champion Voynova.
It proved the correct decision as they blew away Poland in their semi-final and then beat Germany by 0.683 seconds to take the top prize.
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