Men’s Sprint Final
In a cagey start to the final, Paul overtook World Champion Harrie Lavreysen and went into the last lap with a significant lead. The Champions League leader clawed the world record holder for the flying 200m back, just overtaking him on the line to take the win and extend his lead in the Champions League men’s sprint category.
Women’s Sprint
Lauriane Genest let Emma Hinze lead it out, latching onto the wheel of the leader of the Sprint Champions League. It meant that she had to come over the top of the formidable Hinze to win, but she lacked the power to defeat the German star.
"It was hard racing tonight, the same as in Mallorca,” said Hinze. “I'm exhausted. The crowd is great - it's a great place to ride. It feels good to extend my lead in the category and I'm proud to win this one again."
Women’s Elimination
Kirsten Wild was an unlucky early departure from the race, appearing to suffer a mechanical but not getting any reprieve from the commissaires. Yumi Kajihara was another surprise early departure before the final riders settled in to fight for the top positions.
It was a chance for Aussie Annette Edmondson to again shine, continuing her consistent run through the Champions League as she took fifth in the event.
Katie Archibald again showed why she’s the big favourite for the overall win, besting the rest of the contenders, with Zanardi finishing third and Stenberg just missing out in the end to victorious British star.
"It definitely doesn't feel easy,” said Archibald after the race. “I had some really nice breathing space in Mallorca, I didn't win all the races but I felt really comfortable in my body. We went into that elimination race and physically, it just felt like "go!"
Men’s Elimination Race
Iuri Leitao was the first of the major contenders to fall in the elimination. Mora took it upon himself to set a blistering pace in the later rounds, which would see a number of riders drop off as their legs exploded. Australian Kell O’Brien fell victim to this eventually, but not before battling to a Champions League best third place, a result that would push him up the overall standings.
A hard-fought sprint between the speedy pair of Mora and Gate saw the Spaniard take his second win of the night and move into the lead of the overall competition.
Men’s Keirin
An exciting final, for all that Harrie Lavreysen did another dominant performance enroute to the win. Belarus local star Vasilijus Lendel tried his luck with a surge and even hit the front briefly with a lap to go but even the roar of the crowd couldn’t match the power of the big Dutchman.
Hoogland and Boetticher came home fast as Lendel faded back, but it was all Lavreysen.
Harrie Lavreysen, speaking after the Keirin: "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.”
Women’s Keirin
It was finally time for Emma Hinze, the queen of the sprinting so far at the Track Champions League, to not win a race, but that didn’t mean that Germany was kept off the top step. Keirin world champion Lea Friedrich uncorked a powerhouse finals ride to go to the front and dictate terms with an extended sprint to claim victory. Hinze finished second with Kelsey Mitchell third.
Lea Friedrich: "It's amazing to get my first win, it's an amazing competition and a new feeling for me. I love the feeling here, I love the show and I am really proud."
Women’s Scratch Race
An early attack from series leader Archibald threw the cat among the pigeons, but she was hauled back by Kirsten Wild with still 12 laps to go. There were a few splits in the bunch in the final laps but it came down to a group sprint, with Archibald somehow recovering from her earlier effort in time to power to the win ahead of Maggie Coles-Lyster and Yumi Kajihara.
Men’s Scratch Race
A race run under very cagey conditions, with no one keen to take the risk of attacking. Aussie Kell O’Brien came to the front of the race to try and take the sprint from the front, and though he powered to the line well, eventually taking fourth, the faster men came from behind, with Mora taking the win, Rhys Britton finishing second and Gavin Hoover in third.
“It feels very good to race in this event. It feels very different,” said Mora. “I like the race, I like the UCI Track Champions League, and I think it's very important for track cycling."
After two rounds of racing, the top rankings of the league are starting to take shape...
Women’s endurance standings:
Katie Archibald 73 points
Maggie Coles-Lyster 60
Anita Yvonne Stenberg 50
Men’s endurance standings:
Sebastian Mora 59 points
Corbin Strong 57
Gavin Hoover 53
Women’s sprint standings:
Emma Hinze 74 points
Lea Friedrich 56
Kelsey Mitchell 50
Men’s sprint standings:
Harrie Lavreysen 77 points
Stefan Bötticher 59
Jeffrey Hoogland 47
