Track Champions League – Matthew Richardson upsets Harrie Lavreysen in sprint final, Mathilde Gros takes blistering win

Mathilde Gros powered to a blistering sprint race victory, while Matthew Richardson upset Harrie Lavreysen in the dramatic men’s sprint final at the Track Champions League in Mallorca.

Gros always looked as though she was going to win the race and it was another dominant performance from the French rider, who has become a big name in the sport.

“It was a really nice race, I was in the final against Hetty van de Wouw, she is really fast so it was a really good race together,” Gros said after the race.

“I took position two so I needed to push her and wait for the last moment to go in front.

“I am so happy to have won this race, really happy, I took a one-week holiday after the World Championship and I wanted to at my best today.

“I am really happy to win the first race of this tournament and this edition.”

The evening ended with the men’s sprint and Lavreysen suffered a very rare loss as Richardson took the spoils in stunning fashion in a time of 10.282 with his opponent +0.059 off him.

The 23-year-old Australian stormed to victory with a hugely impressive performance as Lavreysen was left to rue a surprising and weaker finish to his night.

There was some joy for Lavreysen, though, as he started the evening with a masterful victory in the keirin ahead of Stefan Botticher of Germany in second place and Richardson in third.

In the women’s keirin, Martha Bayona of Colombia was a surprise victor as Canada’s Kelsey Mitchell and Lea Friedrich of Germany had to settle for second and third spots, respectively.

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