Track Champions League - Matthew Richardson upsets Harrie Lavreysen in sprint final, Mathilde Gros takes blistering win
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Updated 13/11/2022 at 10:50 GMT
It was another special performance from Mathilde Gros on Saturday evening as the French cycling star produced a fine win in the women's sprint final. Gros took on Hetty van de Wouw for glory and she managed to find her best form when it really mattered as she powered away to an inspired victory. It was also an evening to remember for Matthew Richardson of Australia.
Watch the thrilling men's sprint final as Richardson stuns Lavreysen in upset
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.
The 23-year-old Gros was in very fine form as she took the victory in the sprint final against Hetty van de Wouw in a time of 11.496 with her opponent +0.301 adrift.
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.
In the semi-finals, she had defeated Olena Starikova of Ukraine and Luz Daniela Gaxiola Gonzalez, who earlier managed to win her heat in extraordinary circumstances with her saddle having dropped off her bike.
"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.
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"I am really happy to win the first race of this tournament and this edition."
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Watch as electric Gros secures thrilling victory in sprint final at Track Champions League
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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Big surprise as Bayona wins women's keirin at Track Champions League in Mallorca
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After a great debut season, the UCI Track Champions League is back for season two, with Laura Kenny joining the party. You can watch it all live and on demand on discovery+. We also have extensive coverage across eurosport.com.
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