UCI Track Champions League 2021 - Harrie Lavreysen and Emma Hinze star on opening night in sprint leagues

ByBen Snowball

Updated 07/11/2021 at 10:26 GMT

Lavreysen and Hinze were both denied opening round doubles after settling for second in the men's and women's keirin respectively, but are still the riders to beat after dominant sprint victories. 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) lead the UCI Track Champions League sprint standings after an electric opening night in Mallorca.

Both riders won the sprint and finished runner-up in the keirin to earn 37 points. Stefan Botticher (Germany) is second in the men’s standings on 33 points, with Kelsey Mitchell (Canada) trailing Hinze in the women's competition on 35 points.

The next round is in Panevezys, Lithuania on November 27.

UCI Track Champions League

'You gain 10 watts in morale!' - Kenny and stars explain why London velodrome is so special

00:02:10

|

09/12/2022 at 06:56

• GB’s Archibald leads endurance standings after impressing in Mallorca
• UCI Track Champions League: What is it? Dates, schedule and more for cycling’s golden ticket event

MEN’S SPRINT - LAVREYSEN DOMINATES

Lavreysen underlined his status as the world’s top sprinter with a dominant victory in the men’s sprint.

The reigning Olympic and world champion had the final sewn up by the end of the back straight, with opponent Mikhail Iakovlev (Russia) easing up to allow him an uncontested win.

In truth, Lavreysen was more troubled in his semi-final where he held off Nicholas Paul (Trinidad and Tobago) to progress – the pair showing expert bike handling to avoid colliding as they approached the bell.

WOMEN’S SPRINT - 'SPECTACULAR' HINZE TOO GOOD

Hinze edged an all-German affair to beat Lea Friedrich in the women’s sprint.

The five-time world champion allowed her opponent to open up the finale before closing down the back straight and powering to victory.

'Spectacular' - Hinze secures sprint win over Friedrich

MEN’S KEIRIN - 'SURPRISE' AS BOTTICHER BEATS DUTCH DUO

Botticher upset the fancied Dutch to claim a surprise win in the men’s keirin.

The German found himself behind Jeffrey Hoogland (Netherlands) heading into the final corner, with defending world champion Lavreysen on his shoulder.

But the 29-year-old produced the strongest finish to deny Lavreysen a double on the opening night.

'A surprise for you!' - Botticher upsets Dutch in keirin

WOMEN’S KEIRIN - 'SHE WAS ON MARS!'

Mitchell moved from last to first on the final lap to grab a sensational victory in the women’s keirin.

The 27-year-old looked to be out of contention as German duo Friedrich and Hinze duked it out for the lead, but staged a magnificent recovery to overtake the entire field on the last corner to triumph.

“Look at the power! Oh my goodness. That was a drive from nowhere. She was on Mars and came in to win!” said Carlton Kirby on Eurosport commentary.

Hinze, a former world champion in the event, was forced to settle for second ahead of Martha Bayona Pineda (Colombia).

‘She was on Mars!’ – Mitchell roars from last to first in keirin

- - -

The UCI Track Champions League returns for round two on November 27 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

The Track Champions League - the hottest ticket in town

00:02:11

|

08/12/2022 at 10:45

UCI Track Champions League

Kenny, Archibald and Rowsell share their London velodrome memories

00:07:20

|

08/12/2022 at 11:04

UCI Track Champions League

Messiest, latest, loudest… TCL roommates dish the dirt on each other

00:01:53

|

14/12/2022 at 14:15