EUROS 2026: GREAT BRITAIN BEAT WOMEN'S TEAM PURSUIT WORLD RECORD

3rd February 2026: The Great Britain women's team pursuit squad delivered one of the standout performances of the 2026 European Track Championships in Konya, breaking the women’s team pursuit world record twice, culminating in a new benchmark time of 4:02.808.

Great Britain first broke the existing world record during qualification, riding a time inside the previous mark with a quartet comprising Josie Knight, Anna Morris, Kate Richardson and Millie Couzens. The ride immediately reset the world standard and confirmed Great Britain’s intent at the championships.

Later in the competition, Great Britain lowered the record again in the final, this time stopping the clock at 4:02.808. For the medal ride, Katie Archibald was introduced into the line-up, replacing Kate Richardson, alongside Knight, Morris and Couzens. The change did nothing to disrupt cohesion, with the team producing a smooth, controlled and exceptionally fast performance.

The new world record surpasses the previous benchmark set by Germany at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, continuing the rapid progression of the women’s team pursuit over the past Olympic cycle. The event is now firmly approaching the long-anticipated sub-four-minute barrier, a milestone that once seemed distant but is increasingly within reach.

Both record-breaking rides were delivered at the Konya Velodrome, which has quickly established itself as one of the fastest tracks in the world. Located at altitude, the venue benefits from reduced air density, lowering aerodynamic drag and enabling higher sustained speeds. Konya has already hosted multiple world records across sprint and endurance disciplines during this championship.

Great Britain’s rides were characterised by disciplined pacing, clean transitions and minimal speed loss across the four kilometres. Crucially, the team avoided the late-race degradation that often defines team pursuit performances, maintaining pressure through the final kilometre.

Breaking the world record in qualification is particularly notable, as teams must balance outright speed with the need to progress safely through the competition schedule. Delivering a record under these constraints demonstrates both the depth of the British squad and the robustness of their performance systems.

The decision to introduce Archibald for the final reflects Great Britain’s tactical flexibility and rider depth. Archibald’s endurance pedigree and experience added further stability to an already well-drilled unit, allowing the team to push the record even lower when it mattered most.

The timing of the record is also significant given anticipated UCI regulation changes in future seasons, which some within the sport believe may marginally reduce achievable speeds. Records set under the current technical framework could therefore stand for some time.

Great Britain’s double world record in Konya adds to a remarkable championships for British riders and reinforces the nation’s position at the forefront of women’s endurance track cycling. The 4:02.808 mark now stands as the reference point for all rival nations.

As attention turns to upcoming World Championships and the next Olympic cycle, the question is no longer if the women’s team pursuit will break four minutes, but when.