Kento Yamasaki brings keirin world title home as Japan takes two track golds
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(From left) Second-placed Israel's Mikhail Yakovlev, winner Japan's Kento Yamasaki and third-placed Colombia's Kevin Santiago Quintero celebrating during the podium ceremony on Oct 17.
PHOTO: AFP
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COPENHAGEN – Kento Yamasaki won Japan’s first world title in the men’s keirin since 1987 as record-chasing Olympic gold medallist Harrie Lavreysen was eliminated in the semi-finals.
“I still can’t believe I won,” Yamasaki said. “I’m really happy I could produce this result for all the people who’ve supported me.”
It was one of two golds for Japan on the second night of the world track championships in Ballerup, Denmark, as Kazushige Kuboki then dominated the scratch race, a non-Olympic event.
Even though keirin was invented in Japan, the country’s only title in either men or women’s races at the world championships or Olympics was collected by Harumi Honda in Vienna 37 years ago.
On Oct 17, Yamasaki brought the gold home when he outsprinted Israel’s Mikhail Yakovlev and Colombia’s reigning champion Kevin Quintero in the final.
Lavreysen, who won three straight keirin world titles from 2020 to 2022, was second in the consolation final to finish eighth overall. Malaysia’s Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom finished ninth.
Lavreysen had taken his overall tally to 14 world golds the night before as part of the Dutch sprint team. That matched the record set by Frenchman Arnaud Tournant between 1997 and 2008.
The 27-year-old five-gold Olympic champion still has two races in Ballerup to overtake Tournant. The Dutchman rides in the non-Olympic 1km time trial on Oct 18 and tries for a sixth straight individual sprint world title on Oct 20.
The home team gave the fans a victory as Denmark defended their men’s team pursuit title, beating Olympic runners-up Britain in the final. The Danes had finished fourth in Paris, while Olympic champions Australia did not enter.
Britain closed the evening by edging out Germany in the women’s pursuit. Britain’s Katie Archibald, who missed the Olympics after breaking her leg in a freak accident, told the BBC: “It’s not words (being back), it’s a deep breath. It’s feeling where you are meant to be and a team you are meant to be part of and what a treat to be part of this squad. It is very special.”
New Zealand’s Ally Wollaston upset Belgian star Lotte Kopecky in the women’s elimination race.
“It feels amazing. It is something that I have been hunting for quite a long time. I am blown away and a little bit lost for words at the moment,” said Wollaston. “For now, I am enjoying the experience.
“They (Kopecky and third-placed Jennifer Valente) are two of the best riders on the track at the moment, so it was a little bit daunting.
“I’ve been racing them all year and I’ve been beaten by them a few times now.
“You get to know the riders on the track and how each rider works. But until you cross the finish line, you really never know what’s going to happen. So to win against riders like that means a lot.” AFP
