Lavreysen aims for shock win in European keirin final but faces Richardson again

Matthew Richardson has once again beaten Harrie Lavreysen at the European Track Championships in Konya. After the Brit defeated the Dutchman in the sprint final on Wednesday evening, we saw the same outcome in the Keirin. Although this time Lavreysen almost surprised his rival.

Lavreysen was the reigning European champion in the Keirin and defended his title in a final against Lowie Nulens (Belgium), Tom Derache, Harry Ledingham-Horn, Nikita Kalchnik, and of course Matthew Richardson.

The race ignited early, as Lavreysen launched his attack three laps from the finish. This move caught the Brits Ledingham-Horn and Richardson off guard. Nulens was alert and tucked into the Dutchman’s wheel. The Belgian couldn’t break away, but Richardson came charging from the back. In fact, the Brit managed to overtake both riders from the Low Countries to claim gold once again, just like the day before in the Sprint.

World champion Lavreysen had to settle for silver, while 20-year-old Nulens took bronze.

Kopecky and Bossuyt take gold
Shortly before the men’s Keirin, the women’s Madison final was also on the program. Here, the Belgian duo of Lotte Kopecky and Shari Bossuyt claimed the gold medal. Representing the Netherlands, Lisa van Belle and Yuli van der Molen finished sixth.