Team GB's Katie Archibald out of 2026 Commonwealth Games after announcing retirement from professional cycling

The 32-year-old is a three-time Olympic medallist and had been picked to represent Scotland at this summer’s Commonwealth Games before calling time on her career.

Archibald bows out at the top as a current world and European champion, while she is also part of the women’s team pursuit squad that holds the current world record.

”I love racing my bike. After 13 years competing on the international stage, and a lifetime competing against my big brother, I’ve decided to retire from the former,” she told British Cycling.

”Being part of the GBCT [Great Britain Cycling Team] has meant being part of something bigger than myself, and it’s been a true honour to race my bike alongside the best in the country.

”The things I’m grateful for across my career are that I’ve gotten to learn so much, see so much, and meet so many incredible people. But I also feel confident I’ll keep learning, I’ll keep seeing the world, I’ll keep meeting incredible people.  

”I’m not hoping for a grand legacy, but I hope I’ve made an impact on the individuals I’ve worked with. I suppose that’s the same ‘legacy’ we all have in our day-to-day lives, but it still feels valuable. They’ve all made an impact on me.”

Elaborating further on the motivation behind her decision, Archibald revealed that she has ”fallen completely in love” with her new career in nursing.

She is currently in training and revealed ”it feels so special being someone people can trust when they need help”.

Archibald was a latecomer to cycling but after unlocking her hidden talent, she made the GB women’s track endurance squad in 2013 when she was 19.

She made an immediate impact. Alongside Laura Kenny, Dani Rowe and Elinor Barker, Archibald was part of the winning European team pursuit squad on her senior debut.

World and Olympic glory would follow. Archibald is a seven-time world champion, also winning seven silver and three bronze medals at world level.

She also excelled on the Olympic stage, claiming team pursuit gold at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games and backing that up with a Madison gold and a team pursuit silver five years later in Tokyo.

In total, Archibald leaves the sport with 51 medals across world, European, Olympic and Commonwealth level.

”Spending almost 13 years with the Great Britain Cycling Team has fundamentally shaped who I am today,” Archibald wrote in an Instagram post.

”The team has encouraged me to be open to new ideas driven to do things the right way, and left me well versed on how much further we travel when we go together.”

She added: ”I also want to say sorry about the timing of this, and sorry that I won’t be competing at our home Commonwealth Games. I was desperate to make the start line, but my mind and body are saying no.

”It’s time for the next generation to shine, and they’re a group of riders that are really capable of making Scotland proud.”

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