Joanna Rowsell has vowed to win back the World Track Championships team pursuit title after Great Britain’s disappointing defeat to Australia in France yesterday.
Australia broke the world record by nearly three seconds in the final to deny Rowsell, Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker and Laura Trott a fifth straight gold medal.
It was their first defeat in four years but Sutton-based Rowsell is adamant Britain will reassert their authority before the Olympic Games in Rio next year.
She said: “Definitely better to lose this year than next year. I was thinking on the podium, enjoy that while it lasts, girls. It’s only going to last a year.”
Rowsell is also facing up to losing her individual pursuit title after the defending champion could only finish fourth in qualifying meaning a bronze medal race against Amy Cure later today.
Britain had won six of the prior seven team pursuit world titles with the exception being Copenhagen in 2010, where they again lost out to Australia.
But Rowsell believes that defeat helped to galvanise the team and could have a similar effect again.
She said: “That was just over two years out from the London Olympics. At the time it was the best thing that could have happened to us.
“I think there was maybe a bit of complacency in the squad and getting that silver in 2010 completely changed our training as a team.
“Yes, there is work to do, but I think it’s a good position to be in. Maybe we won’t be as complacent going into next season now.
“We are hungry and we don’t want silver again.”
Feature image of Joanna Rowsell courtesy of ucichannel, via YouTube, with thanks
