KATIE Archibald may be a 10-time European champion but the thought of representing Great Britain at her home Glasgow games is still enough to make even the best feel nervous.

The reigning omnium and pursuit European champion will arrive at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome aiming to defend her titles and add madison and team pursuit gold medals to an already endless list of achievements.

Intriguingly the 24-year-old will team up with four-time Olympic gold medallist teammate Laura Kenny in the Madison event – just months after Great Britain’s most successful female sportswoman returned to the track after the birth of her son Albie last year.

And the chance to compete in front of her own fans is an opportunity that Archibald intends to capitalise on despite her apprehension leading up to the event.

She said: “There’s this huge voodoo science around competing on your own track and the advantage that that gives you and it’s something that we anecdotally cannot explain.

“But for some reasons there’s about 10 extra watts for a home track. I guess I am nervous about that pressure, but really excited to take advantage of it.

“Laura Kenny is just as nervous as everyone else. It’s not a problem, it’s just a fact of elite level competition.

“It’s something that we care about and something that you put a lot of your self-worth in. I think it would be hard not to be nervous.”

Rio Olympic gold medallist Archibald has admitted that her focus principally lies in preparing for the Olympic disciplines, especially Team pursuit, an event that Great Britain haven’t won European Championship gold in since 2015.

She said: “The main focus is the Olympic events and the team pursuit underpins our entire programme, so everything we do is hugely focused around that.

“I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves because of the history of team pursuit in Great Britain.

“It does mean that you can feel quite nervous because the timed events are so black and white that if there are small cracks, they appear quite easily.

“I am hoping it is something we can start the week off well with and excel in and take that momentum through the rest of the competition.”

Fans at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome will be treated to an abundance of thrilling, electric action, but few events will peak as much interest as the women’s Madison where Olympic champions Archibald and Kenny will compete together for the first time.

And while the supporters inside the arena will be excited for the event, three-time world champion Archibald will equally be looking forward to the madison competition.

She said: “It will be myself and Laura Kenny that will be doing the madison, so that will be quite exciting.

“We have never actually raced together, but I think on paper it is a strong team. It’s something that the other nations would be understandably intimidated by.”

See the stars of British Cycling #BackToTheTrack at London’s Lee Valley VeloPark at the 2018 TISSOT UCI Track Cycling World Cup series between December 14 and 16. For tickets and more information visit www.trackworldcup.co.uk