FARNWORTH'S Olympic champion cyclist Jason Kenny won a silver medal on day one of the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Apeldoorn.

The 29-year-old raced alongside youngsters Jack Carlin and Ryan Owens for Great Britain in the men's team sprint finishing just half a second behind winners, Holland's Jeffrey Hoagland, Harrie Lavreysen and Nils van Thoenderdaal.

It is Britain's first medal in the discipline in a world championships since 2011, also in Apeldoorn.

Six-time Olympic champion Kenny only returned to racing in January, having initially decided to retire following the Rio Olympics.

Britain mixed and matched their line-up in each round of the event, with Joe Truman joining Carlin and Owens in qualifying and Phil Hindes racing alongside Kenny and Carlin in the first round.

Despite the disappointment of missing out on what would have been Britain's first world title in the discipline since 2005, Kenny said he was 'chuffed' to take a silver medal home.

"I'm really happy, absolutely," he said. "Obviously the problem with silver is you lose the final so you finish on a loss, but for me now it's just nice.

"A month ago I wasn't sure I would be in the team to travel and even when we came I wasn't sure I would even ride. Joe had been training really well and there was every chance he would go and knock it out of the park (in qualifying).

"I was just happy to be in the team and to stick it on the podium, I'm well chuffed with that. It's good to be in a team that's right at the sharp end."

Kenny's wife Laura was also back racing Wednesday night, helping Great Britain qualify second fastest for the women's team pursuit in her first competitive outing since giving birth six months ago.

Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker, Emily Nelson and Kenny set a time of four minutes 19.177 seconds, behind only defending champions the United States, who finished in 4:18.836.

The British quartet had been ahead on the time sheets until the 3,000m mark but lost time down the final stretch to settle for second place.

Four-time Olympic champion Kenny has made her return to competition much faster than expected following the birth of baby Albie, who has travelled to Apeldoorn along with husband Jason.

Great Britain coach Paul Manning said Kenny could take confidence from her return to action.

"I wouldn't say she felt good (when she got off the bike), but reassured and happy," he said.

"It's an impressive team performance at that level. That team hasn't spent much time together.

"For Laura expectations are modified for the minute but they won't be for that long."