Track Cycling World Championships: GB’s Neah Evans wins points race gold for first world title

Cycling

Britain’s Neah Evans claimed her first major individual title in the women’s points race at the Track Cycling World Championships.

Ethan Hayter and Ollie Wood took men’s madison silver, with bronze for Ethan Vernon in the men’s elimination race.

Evans won gold in France with 60 points, ahead of Denmark’s Julie Leth and American Jennifer Valente.

The Scot, 32, adds the gold medal to the silver she won in the women’s team pursuit earlier in the championships.

Hayter and Wood finished with 47 points – 18 behind France, who took gold.

The British pair launched a late attack to claim 10 points in the final sprint, pushing them ahead of Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands.

The result came a day after Hayter successfully defended his omnium title, while he and Wood were part of the quartet that won team pursuit gold earlier in the week.

Vernon, also part of GB’s winning team pursuit quartet, held off Belgium’s Jules Hesters in the elimination race to clinch third place.

Elia Viviani of Italy defended his world title while New Zealand’s Corbin Strong claimed silver.

Evans had silver and two bronze medals from previous World Championships. After winning her first gold on Sunday, she said: “It’s not really sunk in yet. I’m full of adrenaline and excitement, but I’m delighted.

“I definitely felt like I had good legs and I had a really good gameplan going in, so I was quite confident.”

Evans won the first sprint of the 100-lap race and from there never dropped out of the podium places, gaining her first lap after Leth had attacked first.

When Denmark’s Leth gained another later in the race, it looked as though Evans’ grasp on the lead had loosened, but she was able to find the legs to gain a second lap herself in the closing stages and see out the win.

Articles You May Like

In strategic shift, NWSL aims to be a great sports league first, women’s league second
Jets fire GM Douglas, setting stage for reboot
How fighter frustrations brought back the old UFC gloves
‘There’s not one right way to do it’: Why paying goalies is so complicated in today’s NHL
Source: Banged-up 49ers hopeful Williams plays

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *