Matt Richardson wins sprint and keirin on GB debut after nationality switch

Matt Richardson won the men’s sprint and keirin finals at the Track Champions League event in France as he raced for Great Britain for the first time since switching nationality from Australia.

The 25-year-old, who was born in Kent but moved to Western Australia at the age of nine, raced for Australia at the Olympics in Paris before deciding to represent Britain.

He was beaten by Harrie Lavreysen in the men’s sprint final at the Games in the summer but, at the same Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome and in the same event, Richardson beat the Dutchman in impressive style in round one of this season’s Track Champions League.

Richardson went round the outside of Lavreysen before going on to secure victory as his opponent backed off in the final stretch after he was unable to keep up.

Later on in the men’s keirin, Richardson moved out of Lavreysen’s slipstream before accelerating to victory.

“I’ve never beaten Harrie in sprint and keirin on the same night so to do it is pretty cool,” said Richardson.

“I had to race well and take confidence for the rest of the series.”

Great Britain’s Katie Archibald, who had missed the Olympics after breaking her leg in a freak accident, was also in impressive form as she won the women’s scratch and elimination races.

Archibald held off Norway’s Anita Stenberg to win the scratch race before coming out on top in the elimination race.

“I’m really happy,” said Archibald. “I’m doing everything to get the best result possible and hold on as long as I can. I’m going to scrap for every single point.”

Great Britain’s Emma Finucane beat Martha Bayona, of Colombia, to claim victory in the women’s sprint, while compatriot Will Perrett won the men’s elimination race.

The next round of the series will be a double header in Apeldorn in the Netherlands on 29 and 30 November.