Laura Kenny racing with a new perspective

Laura Kenny is winning her battle with sleepless nights and predicts she will be back at world record pace in time to add to her Olympic gold medal collection at Tokyo 2020.

Kenny led Great Britain’s women’s team pursuit squad to a comfortable qualification on the opening night of the European Championships in Glasgow, finishing over two and a half seconds faster than their nearest rivals.

And the 26-year-old, whose son Albie celebrates his first birthday later this month, knows she has plenty more in reserve as she continues her comeback with a new sense of perspective.

“Before you have a baby you’re really selfish – that’s part of being an athlete. Whereas now, he comes before anything else. If he’s ill or has had his jabs, I’ll miss a training session for that.”

The British quintet of Kenny, Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker and Eleanor Dickinson finished in four minutes, 19.33 seconds, almost 10 seconds down on the world record they set at the Rio Olympics two years ago.

Kenny admitted: “The level of training I have to compare myself to is Rio, and I’m not that good.

“It took me two years to get to that form anyway. I’m a year into my return now, so maybe in a year’s time I’ll have it back.”

The British team are strong favourites to take European gold when the team pursuit concludes on Friday,  which will represent a timely boost after having to settle for silver behind the United States on Kenny’s return at the World Championships in Holland earlier this year.

“It was achievement just going there and coming away with a silver was a bonus.”

Also on Friday, Kenny’s husband Jason Kenny will bid for the second European gold medal of his career – and his first in eight years – when he goes in the men’s team sprint.