Track Worlds: Australia surprise in men's team sprint

Men's Team Sprint

Australia surprise with team sprint men's title

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Australia claimed a surprise victory in the men's team sprint in the first day of racing at the UCI Track World Championships in Saint Quentin en Yvelines on Wednesday, with Matthew Glaetzer, Leigh Hoffman, and Matthew Richardson powering to gold ahead of Olympic and defending world champions the Netherlands.

Jeffrey Hoogland, Harrie Lavreysen and Roy van den Berg finished 0.43 seconds slower to take silver.

For Great Britain, previously dominant in the discipline and reforming after the retirement of Jason Kenny, the bronze was a victory with Jack Carlin, Alistair Fielding and Hamish Turnbull narrowly getting the better of Germany by 0.106 seconds.

Women's Scratch Race

Fidanza gives Italy the first gold of 2022

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Italian Martina Fidanza won the first title event of the 2022 UCI Track World Championships, taking home the gold medal from a bunch sprint in the mass-start race.

After a fast first half of the race, the first surge came from Spain's Eukene Larrarte Arteaga but the acceleration was quickly marked and the field remained together with three laps to go.

Maike van der Duin (Netherlands) hit out with two laps to go, but Fidanza went to the fore at the bell lap and opened up five bikes lengths on the field to defend her title as Scratch Race World Champion.

Van der Duin held on for the silver medal, while Jessica Roberts (Great Britain) edged out the USA's Lily Williams for the final podium spot.

Women's Team Sprint

German set a new world record en route to women's team sprint gold

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Pauline Grabosch, Emma Hinze and Lea Sophie Friedrich set another world record en route to the title of World Champions in the women's team sprint.

The German team became the first women to go under 46 seconds, covering the 750-metre version of the sprint in 45.967 seconds, going under their previous mark of 46.064.

They beat China (Bao Shanju, Guo Yufang, Yuan Liying) to claim gold, with Great Britain's Lauren Bell, Sophie Capewell and Emma Finucane nudging the Netherlands by 0.008 seconds for the bronze medal.

There was some consternation in the Dutch team as Shanne Braspennincx, Kyra Lamberink and Steffie van der Peet lined up, as it appeared Hetty van der Wouw was prepared to start but was then denied.

Team Pursuit Qualifying

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In the first round of qualifying heats for the Team Pursuit, Italy came out on top in both the men's and women's qualifying heats.

Elisa Balsamo, Martina Fidanza, Chiara Consonni and Vittoria Guazzini powered to the fastest time ahead of Great Britain, France and Australia.

Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and the United States made the top eight to move onto Round 1 on Thursday.

The men completed two rounds of qualifying, with Great Britain's Ethan Hayter, Ollie Wood, Ethan Vernon and former Hour Record holder Dan Bigman going quickest in the first heats.

Italy, France, New Zealand, Denmark, Australia, Germany and Belgium moved onto the next round.

Later in the evening, Britain were again on top, and will go up against Italy's Filippo Ganna, Francesco Lamon, Jonathan Milan and Manilo Moro.

Denmark and Australia made Thursday's bronze medal final.