Emma Finucane powered to sprint victory on the opening night at Lee Valley VeloPark as she stunned the British crowd in the fourth round of the UCI Track Champions League. A second place in the keirin saw the Welsh woman close the gap in the sprint standings ahead of the Grand Finale tomorrow night, while Katie Archibald continued to hold onto the endurance lead after a tough night of racing. Sprint races Women There was delight for the British crowd as Finucane showed her class to take victory in the women’s sprint. The world champion got the upper hand on New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews in the final showdown. Sailing through the first round and semi-finals relatively unchallenged, Finucane took the inside line on the final lap and held her nerve to take a fine win over the Olympic champion, claiming maximum points to move up to fourth in the overall TCL standings. Finucane reflected on her sprint win, saying: “It is the best feeling ever. I really wanted to come here and win in front of this crowd. Obviously, it is difficult with really good competitors in the women’s sprints. When I made it to the sprint final alongside the Olympic champion, I had to dig deep, and I am really happy with how I raced that. “I crossed the line first and the crowd were just screaming. It is such an insane feeling. I celebrated so hard, because you don’t know when it might happen again. The home crowd is so special. “I am excited and confident heading into tomorrow. My legs seem to be going ok, back-to-back racing is tough. But I will take what I’ve learned tonight and enjoy it again!” Andrews reached the final after getting the better of British duo Sophie Capewell and Katy Marchant in a tight semi-final. Marchant led it out initially, moving the pace along in the opening exchanges, however, as they reached the bell, Capewell surged on the inside to take the prime position on the final lap. The Kiwi stayed with the Briton and had the decisive sprint to advance to the final. Finucane followed up her win in the sprint with a second place in the women’s keirin final, as she was narrowly pipped on the line by series leader, Alina Lysenko. The Briton drew first behind the derny, but as the race opened up, the Dutch riders moved up, with Finucane fighting for the front. On the final lap, she was lifted by a vociferous home crowd, but a sublime late charge by Lysenko saw her take the honours to extend her lead heading into the finale on Saturday. Capewell was just edged out to third in the first round, while Marchant battled for position in the closing stages of her first-round heat in a scrappy contest that saw her exit the competition. Men Buoyed by the home crowd, Matt Richardson gave everything as he attempted to once again take the scalp of Olympic champion Harrie Lavreysen (Netherlands) in the men’s sprint races. In the sprint final against Lavreysen, Richardson went high as they hit the bell, building momentum going into the last lap, but the Dutchman found the extra acceleration to seal another TCL victory and extend his series lead. Richardson had earlier sailed through with ease in his first-round match and semi-final, saluting the crowd after powering home on both occasions, and setting him in good stead for tomorrow’s final round. It was once again a battle for the front in the men’s keirin final, with a huge turn of speed from Richardson in the penultimate lap seeing him cling to the front. It was a little too soon though, with Richardson crossing the line in third after a first round victory. Despite a strong fight from Harry Ledingham-Horn in both sprint races, he was unable to progress to the finals. Endurance races Women The first scratch race of the evening saw Katie Archibald cling on to take second in a tight finish on the line. A three-rider breakaway set the pace early on, before Archibald took to the front of the chasing group with eight laps remaining. The Scottish rider continued to drive down the gap, with help from Scottish teammate Neah Evans, making the catch. Coming round the final bend, it was all to play for, but Anita Stenberg (Denmark) just edged out Archibald for the win. Anna Morris took a brilliant fourth place, with Evans hanging on for sixth and Jess Roberts in 11th. A battling elimination race saw Morris take the top British spot in sixth place. Roberts was first to be caught out in 16th, before Evans paid for her early efforts on the front to finish in 12th. Archibald pinned herself to the black line in signature style but was just edged out in ninth place. Another very close call saw Morris in a six-way battle to the line but was pinched to sixth place. Men A swift start in the men’s scratch race saw Will Tidball and Will Perrett riding strongly, before Philip Heijnen (Netherlands) started to stretch out the bunch in the final 10 laps. He continued to extend his lead, with Alex Vogel (Switzerland) bridging over to create a half lap lead. Attacks off the bunch saw them joined by four others, including Tidball. With three laps to go, Tidball led the front bunch, but as the pace ramped up, a last gasp effort saw him take sixth. Will Perrett came home 13th. In the elimination, Perrett was knocked out in 15th, while Tidball kept out of trouble into the final stages. A tense last few laps saw Tidball cling on, before being eliminated in fifth place. Tomorrow will see all 11 British riders compete in their final races of the year at the Grand Finale.

Finucane shines in London with a victory in the sprint at the UCI Track Champions League

Emma Finucane surged to a sprint win on the inaugural evening at Lee Valley VeloPark, leaving the British audience in awe during the fourth round of the UCI Track Champions League. A second-place finish in the keirin allowed the Welsh athlete to narrow the distance in the sprint rankings ahead of tomorrow night’s Grand Finale, […]

Emma Finucane surged to a sprint win on the inaugural evening at Lee Valley VeloPark, leaving the British audience in awe during the fourth round of the UCI Track Champions League.

A second-place finish in the keirin allowed the Welsh athlete to narrow the distance in the sprint rankings ahead of tomorrow night’s Grand Finale, while Katie Archibald maintained her endurance lead following a grueling night of competition.

Sprint races

Women

The British crowd erupted with joy as Finucane showcased her talent to secure victory in the women’s sprint.

The world champion outpaced New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews in the final contest. Gliding through the initial round and semi-finals with relative ease, Finucane seized the inside line on the final lap and retained her composure to claim a brilliant victory over the Olympic champion, earning maximum points to elevate her to fourth in the overall TCL standings.

On her sprint triumph, Finucane shared:

“It’s the most incredible feeling. I was eager to come here and win in front of this crowd. Of course, competing against such talented athletes in the women’s sprints presents a challenge. When I reached the sprint final alongside the Olympic champion, I had to push myself hard, and I’m genuinely pleased with my performance tonight.

“Crossing the finish line first while the crowd went wild was surreal. It’s an extraordinary sensation. I celebrated intensely because you never know when you might get this chance again. The home audience is truly special.

“I feel excited and confident going into tomorrow. My legs feel decent; consecutive races can be tough. However, I’ll carry what I’ve learned tonight and relish it once more!”

Andrews made it to the final after defeating British competitors Sophie Capewell and Katy Marchant in a close semi-final. Marchant initially set the pace, pushing ahead early in the race, but as they approached the bell, Capewell surged forward to take the lead going into the final lap. The Kiwi stayed close and executed a key sprint to secure her spot in the final.

Finucane followed her sprint win with a second-place finish in the women’s keirin final, narrowly losing out at the line to series leader, Alina Lysenko.

The Brit began behind the derny, but as the race progressed, the Dutch riders advanced, with Finucane battling to reclaim the front. During the last lap, she was energized by an enthusiastic home crowd, but a superb late surge by Lysenko allowed her to clinch victory and widen her lead heading into the finale on Saturday.

Capewell just missed out on third in the first round, while Marchant fought for her position in the final moments of her opening heat in a chaotic contest that resulted in her elimination.

Men

In the sprint final against Lavreysen, Richardson took to the high track as they rounded the final bell, gaining speed for the last lap, but the Dutch athlete found additional gear to secure another TCL triumph and increase his series advantage.

Richardson had earlier breezed through his first-round matchup and semi-final, acknowledging the crowd after powering through both rounds, setting him up well for tomorrow’s final round.

The men’s keirin final turned into another front-position battle, with a burst of speed from Richardson in the second to last lap keeping him in contention. However, it was slightly premature, as he finished third after winning his earlier heat.

Despite a commendable effort from Harry Ledingham-Horn in both sprint events, he was unable to make it to the finals.

Endurance races

Women

The evening’s first scratch race witnessed Katie Archibald hang on for second place in a competitive finish. A trio of riders initiated an early breakaway, before Archibald took charge of the chasing pack with eight laps to go.

The Scottish athlete kept pushing down the gap, assisted by her compatriot Neah Evans, eventually closing in on the leaders. As they approached the final turn, it was a fierce competition, but Anita Stenberg (Denmark) narrowly outpaced Archibald to secure the win. Anna Morris achieved an impressive fourth place, while Evans managed to hold on for sixth and Jess Roberts finished 11th.

A competitive elimination race saw Morris achieve the top British position in sixth. Roberts was the first to be eliminated in 16th place, while Evans’s early efforts led to her finishing in 12th. Archibald tried to stay close to the black line but was narrowly outpaced to finish in ninth. Another tight finish had Morris embroiled in a six-way fight to the line but ended up in sixth place.

Men

A fast-paced start characterized the men’s scratch race as Will Tidball and Will Perrett rode strongly, until Philip Heijnen (Netherlands) began to pull away from the pack in the final 10 laps. He continued to increase his lead, with Alex Vogel (Switzerland) bridging the gap to form a half-lap advantage. Several attacks off the group saw them joined by four additional riders, including Tidball. With three laps remaining, Tidball led the front bunch, yet as the pace escalated, he managed to secure sixth place with a last-minute effort. Will Perrett came in at 13th.

In the elimination round, Perrett was eliminated in 15th, while Tidball managed to navigate through the earlier stages. A nail-biting final few laps left Tidball hanging on, but he was ultimately eliminated in fifth place.

Tomorrow marks the day when all 11 British competitors will partake in their final races of the year at the Grand Finale.