LONDON (Reuters) – On the final night of the UCI Track Champions League, Dutch sprint king Harrie Lavreysen and Australian Matthew Richardson went head-to-head, possibly giving a preview of their likely battle for Olympic glory next year. Lavreysen, the Olympic and five-time individual sprint champion, suffered a rare loss to Richardson in the final at a packed London Velodrome, with the 26-year-old showing visible frustration. However, Lavreysen redeemed himself by winning a thrilling keirin final after Richardson’s early attack.
Richardson, 24, made his Olympic debut this year and appears to be the biggest threat to Lavreysen’s dominance. Despite this, Lavreysen is prepared to defend his title at the Olympics. “I think it’s a big thing,” Lavreysen said of his growing rivalry with Richardson, after winning the overall sprint title in the Champions League. “I think it’s a good thing for the sport. It keeps me fresh because I really need to be focused and every time I see him on the track I know I need to make maximum effort.”
“He tried to stick it to me in the keirin final. We are at the Olympics next year, and that’s not going to happen,” Lavreysen added.
Katie Archibald of Britain reclaimed the women’s endurance title, despite being eclipsed by her teammate Neah Evans in the 20-lap scratch race and coming third in the elimination race. Archibald’s consistency throughout the rounds in Mallorca, Berlin, Paris, and London earned her the overall title and will send her into an Olympic year full of confidence.
Canada’s Dylan Bibic did enough on the final night to secure the men’s endurance title, while New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews claimed the women’s sprint title in impressive fashion. Each title winner is awarded prize money of 25,000 euros ($26,702.50) each.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
