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Emma Finucane leads British charge as UCI Track Champions League gears up for grand finale in London

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Great Britain’s Emma Finucane led the charge as the UCI Track Champions League returned to the Lee Valley VeloPark, London for a final double-header to decide this season’s titles. After another spectacular year of racing in the UCI Track Champions League, the series will reach its climax in front of a sell-out crowd on Sunday night, when the 2024 winners will be crowned.

‘Something very special!’ - Finucane beats Olympic champion Andrews for sprint win

Video credit: TNT Sports

Great Britain's Emma Finucane was one of the athletes to impress on Friday night, with Katie Archibald also staying on course for success.

There was no change at the top of the standings on Friday as Archibald (Great Britain), Dylan Bibic (Canada), Harrie Lavreysen (Netherlands) and Alina Lysenko all defended their leads, but with the UCI Track Champions League, the fight for the title truly is not over until the final race is won.

Women’s Endurance leader Archibald had a mixed night, finishing second in the Scratch race but knocked out comparatively early in the Elimination, coming ninth.

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She remains in the lead with only one round to go, 26 points ahead of Sarah van Dam (Canada) and 30 ahead of Anita Stenberg (Norway), who soared up the rankings to third with victory in the Scratch race.

Ireland’s Lara Gillespie was another to climb the ranks thanks to a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat win in the Elimination, her second in the UCI Track Champions League.

Men’s Endurance leader Bibic had a similarly mixed night but ended on a high, going from 10th place in the Scratch to once again running away with victory in the Elimination.

He extended his lead to 17 points clear of nearest challenger Tobias Aagard Hansen (Denmark), but there is still time for the rainbow jersey to overhaul him in tomorrow night’s Grand Finale. Peter Moore (USA) had another strong night, doubling up on Scratch race wins after victory in Round 3.

'Domination continues' - Archibald claims women's elimination win in Apeldoorn

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Women’s Sprint leader Lysenko suffered one of the shocks of the night as she was knocked out in the Sprint heats.

But the young leader would not stay down for long, roaring back to win the Women’s Keirin at the expense of home favourite Finucane. UCI World Sprint Champion Finucane still had a brilliant night, winning the Sprint final to climb back up the standings to third overall.

Richardson enjoyed a rousing reception as he competed in Great Britain colours in front of a home crowd for the first time.

While he could not replicate the heights of his maximum-points Round 1 showing in Paris, a second place in the Sprint and third in the Keirin ensured he remained in touch with league leader Lavreysen (the Netherlands), who won both races in dominant fashion.

Lavreysen wins men's keirin at UCI Track Champions League

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HOW THE ACTION UNFOLDED

The packed crowd were treated to a brilliant start to the medal events, as London-raised Lucy Bénézet Minns, Lara Gillespie (both representing Ireland) and Yareli Acevedo (Mexico) made a dash for glory halfway through the Women’s Scratch race.

The trio worked well together but Neah Evans (Great Britain) and Archibald put the kibosh on their breakaway, reeling them in with three laps to go.

Archibald led out the final sprint, but Stenberg timed her move to perfection, watching, waiting, and just edging ahead of her down the home straight to take the win, with Cybele Schneider (Switzerland) third.

The Men’s Scratch was another thriller, with Philip Heijnen (Netherlands) taking advantage of hesitation in the bunch by attacking with 11 laps to go. He was joined by four others as the laps ticked down, with Bibic among those caught out in the second group.

Peter Moore came out on top, nicking the win in the closing moments and going back-to-back in Scratch races after last Saturday’s triumph in Apeldoorn. Alex Vogel (Switzerland) took second, with Philip Heijnen rewarded for his efforts with third. Bibic finished down in 10th.

‘Pipped on the line!’ - Stenberg beats home hero Archibald to claim scratch race win

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The home crowd worked their magic in the Women’s Sprint as all three British riders – Finucane, Katy Marchant, and Sophie Capewell – won their heats, Capewell producing the upset of the night so far by knocking out runaway series leader Alina Lysenko.

The final came down to another classic between Olympic champion Ellesse Andrews (New Zealand) and UCI World Champion Finucane. It was a slow start, with Finucane leading from the front, and although Andrews looked close at points, she ultimately left it too late, leaving the Brit to soak up the roars of applause.

‘He is flying!’ – Bibic records statement elimination win

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There was to be no British sprint double as Lavreysen extended his overall lead by soundly beating Richardson in the Men’s Sprint final.

In another clash between the two best in the world, Richardson drew position 1, but once Lavreysen rolled past him the Brit had too much ground to make up.

His Dutch rival cleverly pinned him further up the track and – despite a spirited Richardson charge in the final few metres – it was a clear win for the blue jersey.

The shocks continued as Women’s Endurance leader Archibald finished ninth in the Elimination race, a discipline she normally cruises through, as she was caught out of position at the bottom of the track.

Major rivals Stenberg and Sarah van Dam piled the pressure on, finishing third and second respectively. But it was Lara Gillespie who took the win, outgunning van Dam with a gutsy final lap – despite repeatedly looking at risk of elimination.

The Lee Valley crowd were kept on their toes by a tense, tight Men’s Elimination race, with Will Perrett (Great Britain) – winner of this race in Round 1 in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (Paris, France) – making a shock early exit just four laps in.

But at the business end of proceedings, it was the usual names making their presence felt. Bibic triumphed, finishing miles clear of Lindsay de Vylder (Belgium) in the final lap, while Blake Agnoletto (Australia) finished third for an impressive third straight Elimination race.

Bibic’s nearest overall rival, UCI Elimination World Champion Tobias Aagard Hansen, was fourth.

‘He’s done it again!’ – Moore clinches another scratch race victory at Track Champions League

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Despite the late finish of the night's racing, the crowd were pumped up throughout, and the cheers were deafening as Finucane led out the Women’s Keirin final.

She looked to be flying, but it was heartbreak for the Brit and the home crowd as series leader Lysenko rounded her in the closing few metres for her sixth win in eight events this season.

Martha Bayona (Colombia) recovered from her surprise exit in the Sprint heats to finish third, maintaining second place overall.

The Men’s Keirin was another Lavreysen masterclass, but in a surprise twist, it was not a Lavreysen-Richardson one-two.

Richardson tried to edge out Lavreysen but ended up boxed in towards the back, with miles of track to make up.

And Cristian Ortega (Colombia) was quick to take advantage, surging up to keep pace with a rapidly accelerating Lavreysen and holding on for second. Richardson looked down and out with a lap to go but recovered to finish third.

‘Listen to that!’ – Gillespie proves a popular winner as Irishwoman scoops elimination triumph

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ALL THE REACTION FROM ROUND 4

Women's Endurance leader and Scratch runner-up Archibald said: "I guess I let somebody else decide my [Elimination] race for me, which isn’t the best idea! I tried to force my way out forwards and it didn’t happen, and I should have adjusted quicker. It’s not a nice lesson to learn but it’s one I’ll remember. I think I’ll always be nervous for a Scratch race; I actually feel more in control with the Elimination – with the right mentality you can get the best result you’re capable of. The Scratch race tomorrow will be the most nervous for me because it can go wrong so easily, so I’ll see how that goes, and hopefully that can settle me for one big final race."

Men’s Endurance leader and Elimination race winner Bibic said: "It’d be great [to win the overall title], I’d be in the list of some of the greatest in the sport – it’s amazing. As long as I don’t make any huge mistakes [tomorrow night] it’s over. Once [Tobias Aagard Hansen] got out with four to go in the Elimination I knew I had to win and that would be checkmate, almost. The Elimination is 100% skill, you can’t get marked, all you have to do is not get out! Consistency [is how to win the overall], and it’s important to get wins, too. Getting three wins like I have so far puts me in a great place."

Men’s Sprint leader and Sprint and Keirin winner Lavreysen said: "I feel really good, it’s amazing, winning twice. I feel better every round - in Paris it was really hard, Apeldoorn I felt better, and today I felt really strong. The keirin was really hard, starting in position five, it was really technical so really happy I could win it. It would be crazy to win the title – today I won the Vélo d’Or, which is already a very good prize! I’m 13 points ahead, I didn’t expect it last week. I need to focus tomorrow on recovering well."

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