Katie Archibald hopes home comforts can wipe out injury misery

ByEurosport

Updated 30/07/2018 at 21:12 GMT

Scottish cycling star Katie Archibald is intent on putting a “pants” and painful few months behind her when she returns to the track at the European Championships in Glasgow.

The 24-year-old has faced a battle to be fit for her home event after breaking her collarbone during the women’s Tour de Yorkshire at the beginning of May.

Her crash brought an abrupt end to a disappointing road campaign after a year that had started so well with a medal of every colour – including an impressive individual pursuit gold – at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

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2018 Commonwealth Games – Day Two

Image credit: PA Sport

But with the road to Tokyo 2020 beginning in earnest in Glasgow – when the first batch of qualifying points will be available – Archibald is determined to use the home-town factor to get her season literally back on track.

Archibald told Press Association Sport: “The Commonwealth Games gold medal with the British record as well is something that shines in my memory and will do for years to come.

“I guess I feel a bit guilty that it does feel like things have gone a bit pants through the road season. It was a pain but it means I’m unbelievably keen to open the track season and to start with a home event is a really big deal.”

Katie Archibald

Image credit: PA Sport

The statistics suggest Archibald could be on to a winner with this year’s World Championships in Apeldoorn – at which the Scot herself claimed madison gold – yielding a remarkable 12 medals for the host nation.

Any kind of repeat for a Great Britain team which includes Archibald’s brother John for the first time would represent a superb start to a process which will continue to gain in importance as the months towards Tokyo tick by.

“Home soil is a really strange science that no one can really understand but you just seem to perform better at home,” added Archibald.

2018 Commonwealth Games – Day Two

Image credit: PA Sport

“We saw that with the Dutch in Apeldoorn and time and time again it is just something you have come to accept.

“There is pressure that comes with it because it is a step up in front of your home crowd, and there is expectation, But it does open the door for exceptional performances.”

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