A star-studded trio are the first cycling athletes to be selected to represent Team Scotland at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, after outstanding performances at the recent UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Chile.
Spearheading the cycling team for Glasgow 2026 are Olympic and World champion Katie Archibald MBE, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Mark Stewart and World and European medallist Lauren Bell.
All three riders produced excellent performances at the Championships, with Katie Archibald winning the gold medal in the madison, and silver in the elimination race which is set to make its Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow next year. Mark Stewart claimed silver in the men’s madison, with Lauren Bell having her best year to date with a top ten in the keirin, adding to her hat-trick of British titles won earlier this year at the British Track Championships in Manchester.
Olympic gold medallist in 2016, adding gold and silver at Tokyo 2020, and a seven-time World Champion, Katie Archibald has established herself as a force to be reckoned with over a 12-year period at the top of her sport, from the first of an astonishing 20 European titles in 2013 to her most recent World title in the madison this year.
Her success has been tempered by injury, missing both Birmingham 2022 and Paris 2024 but returns to Team Scotland looking to add to the gold, silver and bronze she won across Glasgow 2014 and Gold Coast 2018.
“To be selected feels fantastic,” Katie said. “Pulling on a Scottish jersey was the biggest goal I had in the early days of my career, and it’s never stopped feeling special. A home Games is extra special, not just getting to compete in front of your home crowd, but I think there’s a sense of pride that comes with being the host nation, with being the home of such a great sporting platform, that really adds to the whole experience.
“Glasgow 2014 was this bright light that I walked towards with a massive smile on my face. I understand a bit more now and that can make some things more intimidating and some things more settling, understanding your strengths and understanding how to keep your cool at a major championship. It also hopefully means I can be a steadying presence for some of the younger riders that we will have, where this will be their big start.”
Having made his Team Scotland debut as an 18-year-old at Glasgow 2014, Mark Stewart cemented his pace in Scottish sporting history with a magnificent ride for gold in the Points Race at Gold Coast 2018. The first of his three World Championship medals also came in 2018, a Points Race bronze, followed up by Madison silver in both Glasgow in 2023 and Santiago in October this year. He made his Olympic debut at Paris 2024, finishing 9th in the Madison alongside Ollie Wood.
Mark said: “This will be my fourth Commonwealth Games and my second in Glasgow, which feels like an absolute privilege. When I competed in Glasgow 2014, I was 18 years old and living in the city and it was my first experience of a major games. It was pretty overwhelming to be honest, and quite hard to soak in. I can reflect on it now, but at the time thing were coming at me thick and fast. Whereas now, I can really prepare and enjoy the process of being with the team and being part of a home games and soak up and enjoy all that while it’s happening.
“It means a lot, and it’s only once every four years we get to compete for Team Scotland. It’s just so special to compete for Scotland. We’re so proud to be Scottish that to wear those colours on an international stage is something that will never get old.”
Lauren Bell made her Commonwealth Games debut at Birmingham 2022, with a best result of 6th in the 500m Time Trial. Since then, she has won World and European medals in the Team Sprint and will be aiming for a first Commonwealth Games medal in Glasgow.
“It feels incredible,” she said. “It’s always nice to be selected that wee bit earlier as well so you have that stress gone. I love representing Scotland, we don’t get to do it often so when the opportunity comes it’s really special.
“Birmingham was a great learning experience and next year I think I can do even better and get one of those medals. Whenever I need a bit of motivation in training, I think of the Commonwealth Games and think of winning and hearing Flower of Scotland for that extra boost.
“Whenever you race the crowd are always incredible and bringing it closer to home in Glasgow it’s going to be even louder with all the support. It really does make a difference when you’re going round and to have friends and family in the stadium it makes it really special, because they have such a big part of your career as well.”
Elinor Middlemiss, Team Scotland Chef de Mission, said: “We are delighted to welcome the first of our cycling athletes to Team Scotland for Glasgow 2026. The velodrome has provided some of Team Scotland’s greatest successes in recent years and to have some of the athletes that have contributed to that success confirmed on the team at this early stage is fantastic as we head into 2026.
“Congratulations to all three athletes selected, as well as their families, support teams and coaches, and we wish them well in their preparation over the coming months.”
Selection for all three athletes named today comes on the back of meeting the Phase 1 selection requirements detailed in the selection policy and following nomination from Scottish Cycling and subsequent ratification by Commonwealth Games Scotland.
Athletes from across all 10 sports and six para-sports featured at Glasgow 2026 will be selected in the coming months as Team Scotland shapes up for an exciting home Games.
A star-studded cycling line-up has been selected to represent Team Scotland at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which get underway in just over 60 days’ time.
Spearheading the selection are Olympic and World champion Katie Archibald MBE and Paralympic and World champion Neil Fachie MBE. The duo are looking to sweep all before them in what will feel like a home Games for the pair, who spend a large amount of their time training south of the border with the Great Britain Cycling Team.
Joining them will be Olympic medallists Neah Evans and Jack Carlin, who like Milngavie native Archibald, also won medals at the Commonwealth Games four years ago. Evans will join Archibald in the women’s track endurance events, whilst Carlin will look to better the Olympic silver and bronze he won in Tokyo last summer – a breakthrough moment in the young Glaswegian’s career.
Sticking with the track, Katie’s older brother John will also go in the endurance events, alongside Highlander Kyle Gordon and Mark Stewart. Four years ago the Archibald siblings made history as they became the first brother-sister pair to win medals for Team Scotland at the same Commonwealth Games, on the same day.
The Gold Coast Games also saw Dundonian Stewart provide one of the Scottish highlights with his heroic victory in the Points Race. Since 2018, Stewart has started a transition to the road and so will also be focusing on the Men’s Road Race in Birmingham.
Debutant Finn Crockett will also take to the road after getting the nod after multiple victories so far this year, including in the UCI 1.2 Melton-Rutland Classic. On the female side 21-year-old Olympian Anna Shackley is likely to lead the charge alongside Katie Archibald, with the Milngavie pair boasting complementary strengths.
Isla Short is another name to watch out for, having improved markedly since a fifth-place finish in the Mountain Bike Cross Country four years ago. The reigning British champion from Peebles was fifth at the World Championships in 2020, and on her day can challenge anyone. On the men’s side, former World Junior champion Charlie Aldridge makes his Commonwealth Games debut, with the Crieff man also aiming to be at the sharp end of proceedings.
Back on the track, Paralympic, World and European champion Neil Fachie is looking to keep hold of his para-cycling Commonwealth crown after blistering form in Australia which saw the Aberdonian set not only a world record, but also a Games record and take home two gold medals.
Aileen McGlynn OBE who has won three Paraylmpic golds and four World titles across a decorated career, is yet to clinch a Commonwealth Gold having picked up silver and bronze medals in Glasgow and Gold Coast respectively. The Paisley cyclist has a gold firmly in her sights to complete the medal set.
Rounding out a trio of visually impaired athletes in the para-sport events is cycling newcomer Libby Clegg MBE. A well known name in British and Scottish sport, Clegg won double gold in the 100m and 200m sprint events at Rio 2016. After giving birth to son Edward in 2019, she returned to the athletics track for the final time in Tokyo before hanging up her spikes and starting a new adventure in cycling.
Fachie, McGlynn and Clegg will be piloted by Lewis Stewart, Jenny Holl and Ellie Stone, the former two having won medals last summer in Tokyo. Birmingham will also see a welcome return of a Women’s Team Sprint squad with Lauren Bell, Iona Moir and Lusia Steele flying the Scottish flag.
Commenting on the strength of the squad selected, Scottish Cycling’s Performance Director David Somerville said: “Our 2018 team set the bar very high, winning 10 medals, four of which were gold, but I have every confidence in the calibre and character of the team we have been able to pick this time around.
“From household names to Commonwealth Games debutants, we have an amazing mix of youth and experience, who are all equally hungry to leave their mark in Birmingham.
“COVID has taught us a lot, but one thing it has only reinforced is our athletes desire to represent Scotland. We will now go about our preparations over the next two months with laser-like focus and I look forward to seeing this team compete with pride and passion in Birmingham.”
Team Scotland’s Chef de Mission, Elinor Middlemiss added: “I am absolutely delighted for the cyclists named in the Team Scotland squad for Birmingham this summer. There is a great mix of hugely experienced riders and Games first-timers, showing we have a hugely talented team and real strength in the squad.
“Cycling is always a great sport to watch and I am looking forward to hearing the crowd get behind our riders in the Lee Valley Velodrome, on the road in Warwick and in the hills in Cannock Chase Forest.”
Team Scotland cycling team announced to date:
Aileen McGlynn OBE
Anna Shackley
Charlie Aldridge
Ellie Stone
Finn Crockett
Isla Short
Iona Moir
Jack Carlin
Jenny Holl
John Archibald
Katie Archibald MBE
Kyle Gordon
Lauren Bell
Lewis Stewart
Libby Clegg MBE
Lusia Steele
Mark Stewart
Neil Fachie MBE
Sean Flynn
