Track Worlds: Australia’s Edmondson wins omnium, Meares wins keirin

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Australia’s Annette Edmondson secured the world title in the women’s omnium at the UCI Track World Championships on Sunday in Paris. The all-rounder won three of the six rounds and accumulated 192 points, beating Great Britain’s Laura Trott by 16 points and the Netherland's Kirsten Wild by 17 points.

Edmondson placed fifth in the opening round’s scratch race and was second in the individual pursuit, which moved her into the early overall lead. She was bumped out of the lead by Wild when she placed a disappointing seventh place in the elimination race, all in Day 4.

She turned things around on Day 5, the final day of the World Championships, when she won all three rounds; time trial, flying lap and the points race, making her the new world champion in the women’s omnium.

It was her second world title at the World Championships in Paris, having also won the women’s team pursuit on Day 2.

"I really can't believe it, it is pretty special (to finally reach the top step of the podium) after the high of the team pursuit, this is just a bonus," Edmondson said. "This (omnium) win is fantastic, but nothing compares to winning it (the team pursuit) with my teammates. I played that over in my head even warming up for this omnium."

"The women's track endurance squad, has been working so hard for the past few years, so to see the success come across the entire board, it is really exciting for all of us. It shows we are heading in the right direction. We are looking forward to the next few years."

Australia celebrated another world title in the women’s keirin when Anna Meares stormed to the win during the final round. She took the win ahead of Shanne Braspennincx from the Netherlands and Lisandra Guerra Rodriguez from Cuba.

It marked Meares' 11th world title on the track making her the most decorated female track cyclist of all time. Prior to these World Championships, the Australian was tied with Felicia Ballanger from France, both had on 10 world titles.

"Very happy, little bit emotional, very proud. It has been a tough run, but it has been a lot of fun,” Meares said."Honestly, I don't remember the final, I honestly can't tell you what I did, but I won."

"I have been in this position (world champion) many times before, but it has been a long time since I have been up there," said Meares, who last won a rainbow jersey in 2012. "This tells me that I have to work just as hard, have to earn it as much as anyone else, and I did that today. I worked hard, I fought hard, and I earned it and I am really proud of myself."

France secured five gold medals, the most of any of the participating countries, during this year’s Track World Championships. Bryan Coquard and Morgan Kneisky contributed to that tally after winning the madison world title with 21 points, one point more than Italy’s Liam Bertazzo and Elia Viviani, and six points more than Belgium’s Jasper De Buyst and Otto Vergaerde.

France’s Grégory Baugé also contributed his nation’s total number of wins after securing the world title in the men’s individual sprint. He won the gold-medal round against Russia’s Denis Dmitriev. Baugé’s compatriot Quentin Lafargue won the bronze-medal round against Dutch rider Jeffrey Hoogland.

Results