GB men 'on back foot' after Richardson withdrawal, but women take silver

Key points

• Matt Richardson withdrew from the World Track Cycling Championships amid misconduct allegations and will co-operate with a British Cycling investigation.
• Great Britain's men's team sprint exited in the first round after being beaten by Australia.
• Britain's women's team sprint won silver, losing to China in the gold-medal race.

Great Britain's Joe Truman said Matt Richardson's withdrawal from the World Track Cycling Championships left the men's team sprint "on the back foot" as they exited in the first round. Richardson, 27, was pulled from the competition on Monday amid allegations of misconduct and said he would co-operate with a British Cycling investigation.

Richardson had also been expected to contend for medals in the individual sprint and keirin. His absence overshadowed preparations for the event in Shanghai, though Britain's women secured silver in the team sprint.

Men's team sprint result

The men's team of Truman, Ed Lowe and Harry Ledingham-Horn finished fifth in qualifying but were beaten by fourth-placed Australia in the opening round of head-to-head races.

Truman said the team had a last-minute change and were "on the back foot" but wanted to put a time on the board at the start of Olympic qualification. He added that while none were riding in ideal circumstances, they are professional athletes and felt they did OK, looking ahead to the next couple of years.

We're on the back foot a bit but let's just put our best foot forward

— Joe Truman

Women's silver and other results

Emma Finucane, Sophie Capewell and Rhianna Parris-Smith finished fastest in qualifying and beat France, but lost to hosts China in the gold-medal race. Finucane is Richardson's partner.

Elsewhere on day one, Britain's women and men progressed as first and second fastest respectively in qualifying for the team pursuit events. Abigail Miller finished 17th of 24 riders in the women's scratch race.