Richardson wins through to track cycling sprint semis
Australian track cycling medallist Matt Richardson has reached the pointy end of the men’s sprint, winning through to the semi-finals.
A member of the team sprint trio who won bronze two days ago, Richardson easily beat Japanese ride Yuta Obara two heats to nil in their Thursday quarter-final at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome outside Paris.
Richardson qualified second-fastest behind Dutch ace Harrie Lavreysen, who broke the flying 200m world record in qualifying and is the reigning Olympic champion.
Lavreysen and his teammates also broke the world record in winning the team sprint gold medal.
Richardson will meet either Lavreysen’s teammate Jeffrey Hoogland or British rider Hamish Turnbull in the semis, with their quarter-final tied at one win apiece.
Lavreysen will take on either British rider Jack Carlin or Japan’s Kaiya Ota, who also need a third-heat decider.
Also on Thursday, Australian Olympic debutant Kristina Clonan finished last in her keirin quarter-final heat.
New Zealander Ellesse Andrews won the gold medal ahead of Dutch rider Hetty van de Wouw and Emma Finucane of Great Britain.
A day after Australia won the men’s team pursuit gold medal, Sam Welsford backed up in the four-race omnium and was 13th with the points race to come.
#Richardson #wins #track #cycling #sprint #semis