UCI Track Champions League 2021 - Harrie Lavreysen doubles up in Lithuania to confirm status as pre-eminent sprinter

ByEurosport

Updated 28/11/2021 at 09:42 GMT

Harrie Lavreysen and Emma Hinze once again bared their teeth at the UCI Track Champions League, producing impressive performances to extend their leads at the top of their respective competitions. The UCI Track Champions League is here and you can watch all of the action live on the Eurosport app, eurosport.co.uk and discovery+

Harrie Lavreysen (Netherlands) and Emma Hinze (Germany) continued their domination of the sprint league at the UCI Track Champions League with further success in Lithuania on Satuday.

Lavreysen doubled up, moving on to 77 points, some 18 points clear of Stefan Botticher in second.

Hinze was runner-up to Lea Friedrich in the keirin but once again won the sprint race to also open up a 18-point lead over compatriot Friedrich.

UCI Track Champions League

Archibald shines, Lavreysen v Richardson: How the Track CL won in 2023

31/12/2023 at 07:36

Highlights: Archibald, Lavreysen, Mora dominate in Lithuania

MEN’S KEIRIN FINAL - LAVREYSEN HOLDS OFF HOOGLAND

Home rider Vasilijus Lendel elected to take it to Harrie Lavreysen and co early on, making a bold move.

However, the raucous crowd at the Cido Arena would be disappointed with Lendel fading to finish last as Lavreysen improved on his second place in Mallorca to take the spoils. Jeffrey Hoogland took second from Stefan Botticher in third.

"It was a hectic Keirin," said Lavreysen afterwards.

In the first three heats there were some dangerous parts so I thought for the final that I would go from the front and don't make things difficult unnecessarily.

"It was a good final. I thought with two left that I can go to the front and do an easy build and a really fast last lap. I think it worked out perfectly.

"It feels good to have extended my lead in the sprint series. There is not a lot of pressure riding in the blue kit, but it's nice to win in it, of course."

‘The cream rises to the top!’ – Overall leader Lavreysen powers to keirin success

WOMEN’S KEIRIN - FRIEDRICH SEALS HER FIRST WIN OF EVENT

Lea Friedrich led home a one-two in the keirin with Emma Hinze coming in second and Kelsey Mitchell third.

Friedrich – eliminated in the heats of the sprint - bedded in behind the derny’s wheel before Hinze wasted no time in taking to the front, ahead of her friend, the world champion Friedrich.

Mitchell made a big move on the outside, but it wasn’t big enough, and the woman in rainbows had enough in the tank to win it, with Hinze taking second place to bring home a German one-two.

‘Elbows, shoulders – everything is involved here!’ – Friedrich leads home German one-two

- - -

WOMEN’S SPRINT FINAL - EMMA HINZE WINS!

Germany’s Hinze continued her stunning start to the UCI Track Champions League as she won the women’s sprint event from Lauriane Genest of Canada.

Genest took it to the world champion, but the overall leader in the competition looked unbeatable on Saturday having beaten Riyu Ohta (Japan) and Sophie Capewell (Great Britain) in the heats, and Olena Starikova (Ukraine) and Mathilde Gros (France) in the semi-final.

Canadian rider Genest was bold, letting Hinze lead it out, before leaping on her wheel, but she gave herself too much to do and had to settle for second.

‘A big move!’ – Hinze ‘owns it’ to hold off Genest in sprint final

MEN’S SPRINT FINAL - LAVREYSEN OVERCOMES NICHOLAS PAUL

Lavreysen doubled up with a hard-fought success over Nicholas Paul (Trinidad and Tobago) in the sprint final in the last race of the night.

The reigning Olympic and world champion just got the better of Paul at the semi-final stage last time out in Mallorca and it was another hard-fought race. Paul, the world record holder for the flying 200m, pushed Lavreysen to the top of the track and went early as he mixed up his tactics.

However, Lavreysen underlined his status as the world’s top sprinter to haul in Paul and double up.

‘I love that!’ – Lavreysen comes through at the last to beat Paul

- - -

Women’s sprint:

• Emma Hinze - 74
• Lea Friedrich - 56
• Kelsey Mitchell - 50

Men’s sprint:

• Harrie Lavreysen - 77
• Stefan Botticher - 59
• Jeffrey Hoogland - 47

The UCI Track Champions League returns for round three on December 3 and you can watch all of the action live on the Eurosport app, eurosport.co.uk and discovery+. Find out more about the "mind-blowing" new era for track cycling.

UCI Track Champions League

Watch back the best of sprint champ Lavreysen in the 2023 UCI Track Champions League

00:04:00

|

23/11/2023 at 14:39

UCI Track Champions League

Archibald, Lavreysen among Track CL winners on closing night

11/11/2023 at 23:01

UCI Track Champions League

UCI Track Champions League recap - Archibald and Lavreysen among winners in Grand Finale

11/11/2023 at 23:13