Emma Finucane sets new 'unbelievable' sprint world record in Turkey, Katie Archibald helps Team GB set team pursuit record - twice
Updated 02/02/2026 at 19:55 GMT
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Emma Finucane wrote her second world record into the history books on Monday, when she flew over the line in a time of 9.759 seconds during the women's flying 200m individual sprint time-trial qualifiers. The 23-year-old Welsh rider broke Yuan Liying's previous best time by nearly a quarter of a second. "I just can't believe it," she said after the qualifier.
GB's Finucane makes light work of Burlakova to breeze into women’s sprint semi-finals
Video credit: TNT Sports
Emma Finucane has set new heights after breaking the sprint world record at the 2026 UEC Track Elite European Championships in Turkey on Monday.
She stormed across the line in 9.759 seconds during the women's flying 200m individual sprint time-trial qualifiers at the Konya Velodrome.
The 23-year-old beat China's Yuan Liying's previous record of 9.976s by nearly a quarter of a second - which was recorded at the same location last year.
"People know that I wanted to break a world record. I think every girl coming into this competition wanted to take the opportunity, too," Finuncane said after her achievement.
"I was really nervous to execute the perfect ride and I think I pretty much went out there and did everything I possibly could technically and to come away, to look at the board and see 9.759 and break the world record is unbelievable. I just can’t believe it."
Last August, Great Britain's Matthew Richardson broke the men's world record at the same arena in a time of 8.857s.
In what has become a memorable track for British riders, Finucane became only the third women's rider to record a sub-10-second time.
GB rider Sophie Capewell was the second woman to break the 10-second barrier when she rode a time of 9.982s just before Finucane's run on Monday.
Capewell landed a silver medal in the team sprint, an event Finucane decided to skip in order to focus her attention on the individual sprint and world record.
But Welsh rider Finucane eclipsed her team-mate's effort, as she averaged a speed of 73.78kph (45.84mph).
Both riders will take part in the individual sprint semi-finals on Tuesday afternoon.
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Finucane has enjoyed an impressive rise in recent years, which has included Olympic and World Championships success.
She is a reigning Olympic champion in the team sprint, having claimed a gold medal at the Paris 2024 Games alongside Katy Marchant and Capewell.
The trio shattered the world record three times and ultimately set a new record of 45.186s in the final, where they defeated New Zealand, meaning Finucane now holds two separate world records.
In what was her debut Olympic Games, Finucane also claimed the bronze medals in the keirin and sprint, becoming the first British woman to win three Olympic medals at one Games since Mary Rand achieved the feat 62 years ago.
As well as her Olympic success, Finucane is a former two-time sprint world champion, having claimed her first senior world title in Glasgow in 2023, before defending her crown a year later in Ballerup.
More world-record success for GB
Later on Monday, Team GB's Katie Archibald, Millie Couzens, Josie Knight and Anna Morris made more history by claiming a new women's team pursuit world record - twice.
Team GB beat Germany in the 4km event to take European gold medal with a time of 4:02.808, bettering the 4:03.634 they had set in the first round.
Both rides were world-record breaking times for Team GB, surpassing the previous record - held by Germany - which had stood at 4:04.242 since it was set at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
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Great Britain break world record to claim women’s team pursuit gold
Video credit: TNT Sports
Denmark, meanwhile, clinched another world record on a remarkable Monday's racing.
Tobias Hansen, Frederik Rodenberg, Rasmus Pedersen and Lasse Norman Leth became the first four-man team to break the 3:40 barrier, posting a time of 3:39.977 in the first round.
Denmark went on to beat Switzerland to the title.
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Watch the 2026 UEC Track Elite European Championships live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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