Medal Monday - Memories of a sensational Rio Olympic Games for Team GB's cyclists

Medal Monday - Memories of a sensational Rio Olympic Games for Team GB's cyclists

Navigation:
Home » Great Britain Cycling Team

It has been a sensational fortnight for Team GB's cyclists at the Rio Olympic Games.

Great Britain won six cycling gold medals, four more than any other nation in Brazil. They topped the medal table with a total of 12, twice as many as the nearest rival.

As part of our Medal Monday celebrations, we're taking a look back at the special moments in South America where British cyclists ruled the world.

Froome's timely bronze

Team GB's Chris Froome wins time trial bronze at the Rio Olympic Games

Geraint Thomas came so close in the men's road race on the opening day of competition while Lizzie Armitstead just missed out on the podium the following day.

Enter the record-breaker Chris Froome. Fresh from retaining his Tour de France title and securing his third yellow jersey win in four years, Froome took to the climbs and descents of the Grumari circuit to win time-trial bronze for the second successive Olympics and to kick off Team GB's medal haul.

Superb start for sprinters

Team GB's Phillip Hindes, Jason Kenny and Callum Skinner win team sprint gold at the Rio Olympic Games

The first medal came on day five of the 2016 Rio OIympic Games.

There wasn't long to wait for the second.

Phillip Hindes, Jason Kenny and Callum Skinner took to the start-line for qualifying as the defending champions, but with the world unsure as to just how fast they'd be able to go.

The answer was very fast. The trio set a stunning Olympic record, breaking it once again in the final as they beat New Zealand to gold - a fourth for Kenny, second for Hindes and a wonderful maiden gold for Skinner on his debut.

In pursuit of glory

Sir Bradley Wiggins celebrates his fifth gold and eighth Olympic medal

After a narrow defeat in the world championships, Sir Bradley Wiggins said he would bet his house on Team GB winning gold in the men's team pursuit at the Olympics.

He proved to be a man of his word on day seven in the Rio Olympic Velodrome as the British quartet of Wiggins, Steven Burke, Owain Doull and Ed Clancy powered home against Australia in a new world record time of 3:50.265 - the second time they'd broken the world record that day.

Clancy won his third gold, Burke his second while Doull made it the perfect start to his Olympic career by earning his first.

Sir Bradley became Britain's most decorated Olympian, the first Brit to ever claim eight Olympic medals.

The Awesome Foursome

Team GB's Laura Trott, Elinor Barker, Joanna Rowsell Shand and Katie Archibald celebrate team pursuit gold in Rio

The team pursuit gauntlet was laid down by the men on Friday - and the women showed their world class pursuiting ability the following evening with a sensational gold.

With Katie Archibald and Elinor Barker making their OIympic debuts alongside defending champions Joanna Rowsell Shand and Laura Trott, the quartet went faster than any other four women had gone on bikes - not once, not twice, but three times.

They set a new world record in qualifying, only to see the Americans steal that title from them in the first round. The USA record lastest only minutes as Team GB went faster again.

It produced a classic showdown in the final and the fastest team pursuit race for women of all time. It was the Brits who came out on top to retain their title in 4:10.236 - yet another world record.

The Comeback Kid

Team GB's Becky James celebrates with her family and partner George North after she wins keirin silver in Rio

Of all the wonderful performances by Team GB in the velodrome in Brazil, perhaps none were as emotional as that of Becky James in the keirin.

After a few years dominated by illness and injury, James feared she would never get on a bike again, let alone make it to an Olympics.

She battled her way through the keirin heats, showing the class that made her a double world champion in 2013 before winning a brilliant silver in the final. A special moment, shared with family and friends.

Battle of the Brits

Team GB's Callum Skinner and Jason Kenny celebrate sprint silver and gold at the Rio Olympics

Team sprint gold for Team GB was a fantastic performance and Callum Skinner and Jason Kenny took their team form into the individual competition, both setting Olympic records in qualifying.

Skinner made the final without losing a match, while Kenny needed to come from behind to win his semi-final against the Russian Dmitriev.

In the final, Kenny's experience showed through as he claimed his second gold medal of the Games and his fifth in total, while Callum Skinner took his second medal by picking up silver.

Silver lining for Cavendish

Team GB's Mark Cavendish celebrates silver in the omnium at the Olympics

Mark Cavendish came to Rio on the back of an incredible Tour de France - wearing the yellow jersey for the first time in his career and taking his 30th stage win, putting him second on the all-time list.

One thing had eluded him in his illustrious career - an Olympic medal. In Brazil, he added that honour to his achievements.

The Manx Missile showed his class with strong performances across all six events, taking silver after a pulsating points race, to reach an Olympic podium for the first time.

Trott on top

Team GB's Laura Trott celebrates omnium gold in Rio

Laura Trott made history in the team pursuit by becoming the first British woman to win three Olympic gold medals - only for Charlotte Dujardin to equal that total in the equestrian events.

Trott was defending omnium champion and had secured the world title in London and never looked like losing the grip on her crown in Brazil.

She dominated from start to finish, crossing the line in the points race and unleashing a flood of tears - the emotion of her incredible accomplishment at being the only British woman to win four gold medals hitting home.

Sprint success

Team GB's Katy Marchant and Becky James celebrate bronze and silver in the sprint

Just as the British men had set Olympic records in qualifying, so did first Katy Marchant, and then Becky James.

The pair made it to the semi-finals, where James overcame Elis Ligtlee while Kristina Vogel beat Marchant.

Marchant dominated the Dutch rider in the bronze medal match, to win Olympic bronze three years after converting to the sport.

James was unable to overcome Vogel in the final, but claimed a second silver of the week.

King Kenny

Team GB's Jason Kenny and Laura Trott celebrate winning five Olympic gold medals between in Rio

It had already been an incredible night for Team GB and a terrific Games for Jason Kenny - but he wasn't done there.

With the opportunity to draw level with Sir Chris Hoy as Britain's most succesful Olympians, Kenny looked dominant throughout the keirin competition, pipping his opponents on the line to win his third gold medal of the week and his sixth in total.

It capped off an incredible few days for golden couple Kenny and Laura Trott - the pair winning five medals between them in Rio and moving to ten in total in Games history.

Medal Monday

To celebrate the twelve medals won by British cyclists in Rio, we're giving away twelve fan memberships - with one winner getting the chance to win a Great Britain Cycling Team jersey signed by the women's team pursuit squad.

Enter competition