Laura Kenny roars back after 'confidence crisis' and 'lost spark'

LONDON ENGLAND AUGUST 01 Laura Kenny of Team England celebrates with their flag after winning Gold in the Womens 10km Scratch Race on day four of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Lee Valley Velopark Velodrome on August 01 2022 on the London England Photo by Justin SetterfieldGetty Images
Laura Kenny celebrates her victory in the Commonwealth Games scratch race (Image credit: Getty Images)

Laura Kenny's victory in the Commonwealth Games scratch race might have had a familiar feeling – a 34th gold medal at a major international event sealed with the exhilarating combination of speed and acuity that has characterised her career. But this one was different.

An emotional Kenny revealed after the podium ceremony that she'd "lost the spark" this year, finding it difficult to find motivation to train. On top of that, she said she'd suffered a "confidence crisis" just the previous day, placing a lowly 13th in the points race. 

Patrick Fletcher

Patrick is a freelance sports writer and editor. He’s an NCTJ-accredited journalist with a bachelor’s degree in modern languages (French and Spanish). Patrick worked full-time at Cyclingnews for eight years between 2015 and 2023, latterly as Deputy Editor.

Read more
Chloé Dygert during the 2025 Tour Down Under press conference
'I don't feel like I've ever hit my full potential' - Chloé Dygert resets after years of setbacks
STIRLING AUSTRALIA JANUARY 19 Mie Bjorndal Ottestad of Norway and Team UnoX Mobility on third overall place poses on the podium ceremony after the 9th Santos Womens Tour Down Under 2025 Stage 3 a 1059km stage from Stirling to Stirling 444m UCIWWT on January 19 2025 in Stirling Australia Photo by Dario BelingheriGetty Images
'I couldn't ride my bike outside for half a year' - Norwegian champion on overcoming a career-altering crash to land on the Women of Tour Down Under podium
Baker on the podium of the 2025 Schwalbe Women's One Day Classic after finishing second
'A big head-knock' - Georgia Baker recalls long battle with concussion
Rebecca Henderson (Orbea Factory) claims victory at the 2025 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships at Mt Buller
Rebecca Henderson prevails through wild weather and a crash to clinch 12th consecutive Australian mountain bike elite cross-country title
Rebecca Henderson (Orbea Factory) after crossing the line to claim victory at the 2025 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships at Mt Buller
Medical checks reveal Rebecca Henderson raced to Australian mountain bike title with fractured shoulder
ALDINGA AUSTRALIA JANUARY 17 Alyssa Polites of Australia and ARA Australian Cycling Team celebrates at podium as White best young jersey winner during the 9th Santos Womens Tour Down Under 2025 Stage 1 a 101 9km stage from Brighton to Snapper PointAldinga UCIWWT on January 17 2025 in Aldinga Australia Photo by Dario BelingheriGetty Images
Alyssa Polites shows she is back to her best with Women's Tour Down Under attack
Latest in Women's cycling
Austrian Sebastian Schönberger wins elite men's division of Wörthersee Gravel Race 2024
Southern Austria region 'more than ready' to host UCI Gravel World Championships and confirms application with proposed courses
Women's classification leaders are called to the start line for the final stage of Joe Martin Stage Race in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2023
'Knowledge is here, we just need the money' - Organisers to reform Joe Martin Stage Race as Tour of Arkansas
Map of women's Dwars door Vlaanderen 2025
Dwars door Vlaanderen Women 2025 Route
DE PANNE BELGIUM MARCH 27 Lorena Wiebes of Netherlands and Team SD Worx Protime celebrates at finish line as race winner during the 8th Womens Classic BruggeDe Panne 2025 a 1527km one day race from Brugge to De Panne UCIWT on March 27 2025 in De Panne Belgium Photo by Luc ClaessenGetty Images
Classic Brugge-De Panne Women: Lorena Wiebes takes win number six of 2025
ARSCHOT BELGIUM MARCH 02 Tiffany Cromwell of Australia and Team CANYONSRAM signing prior to the 17th Fenix Omloop van het Hageland 2025 a 1356km one day race from Aarschot to TieltWinge on March 02 2025 in Aarschot Belgium Photo by Rhode Van ElsenGetty Images
Surgery for Tiffany Cromwell after first fractures of career at Milan-San Remo
Joe Laverick and Chris Mehlman battled at the front of the race, with Laverick pushing away in the final five miles
Joe Laverick, Lauren Stephens take back-to-back wins at Rattlesnake Gravel Grind
Latest in News
Austrian Sebastian Schönberger wins elite men's division of Wörthersee Gravel Race 2024
Southern Austria region 'more than ready' to host UCI Gravel World Championships and confirms application with proposed courses
Women's classification leaders are called to the start line for the final stage of Joe Martin Stage Race in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2023
'Knowledge is here, we just need the money' - Organisers to reform Joe Martin Stage Race as Tour of Arkansas
Stage winner Team Visma's British rider James Matthew Brennan celebrates with the yellow jersey on the podium of the first stage of the 2025 Volta a Catalonya cycling tour of Catalonya, a 178,3 km loop starting and finishing in Sant Feliu de Guixols, on March 24, 2025. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
Matthew Brennan adds Limburg Classic, Tour of Romandie to program after Volta a Catalunya breakthrough
Primoz Roglic and Juan Ayuso sprint at finish line to win the stage 4 at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2025
'We are equal' - new Volta a Catalunya leader Primož Roglič realistic after narrow defeat of closest rival Juan Ayuso
WALLERS FRANCE JULY 06 Tadej Pogacar of Slovenia and UAE Team Emirates white best young jersey competes passing through a cobblestones sector during to the 109th Tour de France 2022 Stage 5 a 157km stage from Lille to WallersArenberg TDF2022 WorldTour on July 06 2022 in Wallers France Photo by Bernard Papon PoolGetty Images
'He has the engine' - Geraint Thomas has no doubts Tadej Pogačar can conquer 2025 Paris-Roubaix despite lack of experience
French rider of team Visma Lease A Bike Christophe Laporte speaks during a press conference after winning the 118th edition of the 213,9 km Paris-Tours one day cycling race, in Tours, central France on October 6, 2024. (Photo by GUILLAUME SOUVANT / AFP)
Christophe Laporte misses out on cobbled Classics due to cytomegalovirus