“They set a precedent: British Cycling is one of the best teams in the world.
“Sometimes you might think, 'How did we end up being these people?'
“Laura Kenny, Elinor Barker and Joanna Rowsell have set such a standard for us that we want to keep it going.”
Kenny won five Olympic gold medals and seven World Championship gold medals, while Barker won Olympic gold in Rio and seven world titles. Rowsell is a two-time Olympic champion and five-time world champion.
“People think we are the best whether we are or not,” Knight added. “So we just need to take confidence from that and know that while we are looking at other countries, they are all looking at us.
“Nine times out of 10 we can do it, so we have hope.
“I don’t want to jinx anything, but it would be great to win it three times in a row, that would be something special.”
Roberts was part of the 2024 team and says the competition in Santiago will be tough.
“Everyone is so strong that I think we're thinking about other teams as well,” said Roberts, one of three Welsh riders in the sextet along with Morris and Barker.
“The strength in women's cycling is very high at the moment, you all just need to perform at your best.”
The arrival of 22-year-old Leach may once again make the team's four-man lineup look different, but it is a challenge the team are relishing.
“I think with the program we have here at British Cycling, with the potential for the podium, with the younger riders and the people in charge of training them, you know that whenever a younger one comes along, they know what they're doing, they've done it,” Knight said.
“They may have done it slower, but you can trust them straight away, so it's never trust.
“It’s just learning how someone rides, it has its challenges, but that’s part of the competition and the beauty of team pursuit.”
In addition to the team pursuit, all riders on the women's endurance team will compete in individual events.
Knight will be aiming for individual pursuit glory but will face stiff competition from fellow GB teammate Morris, who has set two world records in the sport this year.
Roberts will be looking to improve even further on the back of the silver she won in the Omnium last year.
