DANISH VICTORY ON HOME SOIL
The Danish team in the men’s team pursuit had the crowds at the Ballerup Super Arena on their feet, as they cheered on Tobias Hansen, Carl-Frederik Bévort, Niklas Larsen and Frederik Madsen to victory after a thrilling race finish against Great Britain. Ethan Hayter, Josh Charlton, Charlie Tanfield and Oliver Wood were in the lead after 2,000 metres but could not stand against the Danish power in the second half (3:45.642 vs 3:45.963).
“It’s just overwhelming,” Madsen said. “The support we’ve had the last two days and especially tonight is just absolutely crazy. It’s a dream come true to win the UCI World Champs at home.”
In the fight for the bronze, Tim Torn Teutenberg, Benjamin Boos, Ben Jochum and Bruno Kessler brought Germany the first podium spot at these 2024 Tissot UCI Track World Championships.
WOLLASTON SURGES PAST KOPECKY
A recent programme addition, the women’s elimination race crowned a third UCI World Champion, with New Zealand’s Ally Wollaston taking her first Elite rainbow jersey.
A rising star who has impressed since the start of the year, the young Kiwi got the better of Kopecky after USA’s Jennifer Valente who won the Women's Endurance overall title in the 2022 UCI Track Champions League, settled for the bronze medal.
“It feels amazing, it’s something I’ve been hunting for quite a long time”, Wollaston reacted. “[Lotte Kopecky and Jennifer Valente are] two of the best riders on the track at the moment so it was a little bit daunting but I’ve been racing them all year. I’ve been beaten by them a few times now but you get to know the riders on the track quite a lot. Until you cross the finish line you never know what’s gonna happen. To win against riders like that means a lot.”
YAMASAKI BRINGS GOLD FOR JAPAN
The men’s keirin elivered sensational speeds and thrills as Japan’s Kento Yamasaki fought his way to the rainbow jersey, battling against the most powerful riders in the world.
Yamasaki surged right at the end to claim the gold ahead of Israel’s Mikhail Yakovlev and Colombia’s Kevin Quintero, both loyal riders in the UCI Track Champions League roster.
Yamasuki is the second Japanese rider to have won the men’s keirin, after Harumi Honda in 1987.
Reigning Olympic Champion Harrie Lavreysen (NED), eliminated in the semi-finals, finished eighth.
KUBOKI DOUBLES DOWN FOR JAPAN
In the men’s scratch race, Japan had reason to celebrate again as Japan’s Kazushige Kuboki resisted his chasers to take gold, after a daring attack launched with eight laps to go. Silver medallist in 2022 and 2023, he claimed his first rainbow jersey - and his country’s first in the format - ahead of Denmark's Tobias Hansen and France’s Clément Petit.
“I knew that it wouldn’t be easy so I tried to do what I always do, riding as normal as possible,” Kuboki explained. “I wasn’t aiming for a medal, I was just trying to do my best here today.”
GREAT BRITAIN TAKES ANOTHER PODIUM
The last race of the evening was the women’s team pursuit and Katie Archibald, Megan Barker, Josie Knight and Anna Morris for Great Britain delivered again, winning gold ahead of Germany’s Franziska Brausse, Lisa Klein, Mieke Kröger and Lena Charlotte Reissner.
“It feels fantastic,” Archibald said as she donned her sixth rainbow jersey. “It has felt fantastic, as well as preparing, having a goal like this. And obviously the greatest satisfaction is when you achieve that goal, but the journey has been just as enjoyable.”
In the bronze fight, Italy’s Martina Fidanza, Chiara Consonni, Martina Alzini and Vittoria Guazzini got the better of Canada.
