Five more UCI Track World Champion titles were awarded on Friday night in the Ballerup Super Arena, Denmark, with Netherlands’ Harrie Lavreysen claiming a record breaking 15th title, Spain’s Sebastian Mora taking the rainbow jersey in the men’s points race, New Zealand’s Ally Wollaston powering to another success, Italy’s Jonathan Milan delivering in the individual pursuit and Great Britain’s Emma Finucane sprinting to a new gold medal.
Lavreysen’s historic race
At 27 years old, Harrie Lavreysen can already boast the best record ever when it comes to racking up rainbow jerseys in the Tissot UCI Track World Championships. The Dutch icon now has 15 titles, one more than France’s Arnaud Tournant, after he ruled the 1km time trial, edging his countryman and close rival Jeffrey Hoogland (57.321 vs 58.252) to the silver.
“It's crazy to have so many UCI World Champions in the past hundred years and to be on top of the list. Doing it today in a new event for me made it really special”, Lavreysen said after he took his first title in the 1km time trial, to go along with six triumphs in the team sprint (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024), five in the individual sprint (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) and three in the keirin (2020, 2021, 2022).
Great Britain’s Joseph Truman rounded out the podium (58.669) with the bronze medal.
Mora edges Larsen
The unique format of the points race delivered thrilling action to kick off the Friday evening competitions, with the battle for the rainbow jersey lasting through 160 laps.
Denmark’s Niklas Larsen was eyeing a second title on home soil, a couple of days after the men’s team pursuit, until Spain’s Sebastian Mora launched a decisive final assault and took six points on the finish line, bringing his tally up to 70 points, against 69 for Larsen.
“I remember when I was a UCI World Champion in 2016, it’s incredible to win another time, in a different race”, Mora said as he claimed, at 36 years of age, his second rainbow jersey, eight years after he won the scratch race in London. “All the way to the end, it was very close. I went full gas in the last two laps to take six points and win by only one point. It’s an amazing moment.”
Very active in the first part of the race, the Netherlands’ Philip Heijnen held on to third position (65 pts) and took his first UCI Track World Championships medal.
Milan powers to a new dimension
Already a UCI World Champion and an Olympic Champion in the team pursuit, Italy’s Jonathan Milan powered to a new triumphant victory in Ballerup, setting a new world record in the individual pursuit (3:59.153), and getting the better of Great Britain’s Josh Charlton (4:00.232), who had himself set a new world record (3:59.304) earlier in the qualifying.
“It’s really satisfying. This was a big goal for this season and we made it so I’m super super happy”, Milan said as he succeeded his countryman and friend Filippo Ganna. “I have to say I was super impressed [with Josh Charlton’s qualifying time] so my tactic was just to go full gas. It turned out pretty good, I’m just happy.”
In his very last race after a long and successful career, British Daniel Bigham bowed out with a bronze medal and standing ovations from the crowd in the arena.
Wollaston is unbeatable
New Zealand's Ally Wollaston’s medal tally grows as she ruled the omnium and took a second gold medal in Ballerup. The young Kiwi impressed in all four events of the day: ninth in the scratch race, first in the tempo race, winner of the elimination race and finally masterful in the points race - 27 points, bringing her tally up to 131 points – which secured the victory ahead of Great Britain’s Jessica Roberts (119 pts) and Norway’s Anita Stenberg (110 pts).
“I’m just blown away”, Wollaston said. “I knew the form was there but to put it together on an omnium day is a different story so I’m just really happy with today’s performance. I just had to try and stay calm. I started off the day with not such a great scratch race but I managed to back it up for a few good races after that.”
Finucane’s doubles
At 21 years old, Great Britain’s Emma Finucane is dominating the sprint events. She won the individual event on the Friday, a couple of days after having won the team sprint, adding to the collection of sprint medals from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games earlier this year.
“Every UCI World Champion title is really special”, Finucane said after her battle with Dutch Hetty van de Wouw to retain the title she claimed last year in Glasgow, Great Britain. “Winning the team sprint with the girls was really special for us, something we wanted to achieve, and then obviously as the defending sprint champion it’s hard, you have expectations and I’m really happy with how I conducted myself on the track. I really enjoyed riding my bike today.”
In the final for bronze, Mina Sato beat Great Britain’s Sophie Capewell to become the first Japanese medallist in the women’s sprint event.