Guo overcomes injury-hit Meares to claim keirin gold at UCI Track World Cup

Shuang Guo won keirin gold following a photo-finish ©Getty Images

China’s Shuang Guo held off the challenge of Australia’s Anna Meares to claim women’s keirin gold on the final day of the International Cycling Union (UCI) Track World Cup in Cambridge, New Zealand.

Meares, a double Olympic gold medallist and 11-time world champion, was forced to miss the women’s sprint competition yesterday due to a back injury but she made serene progress through the rounds, winning both her heats, having been given the all-clear to ride.

She was forced to settle for second place, however, after she was pressured by Guo in the closing stages of the race and a photo-finish resulted in the race victory being awarded to the Chinese cyclist.

Canada’s Monique Sullivan, a triple gold medallist at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games, benefited from Lee Hye-jin’s relegation to win bronze, with the South Korean adjudged to not to have held her line in the final sprint.

Australia were quickly able to celebrate claiming gold, though, as Matthew Glaetzer stormed to victory in the men’s sprint competition.

The 23-year-old beat Germany’s Max Niederlag in straight rides in the final, to complete the event without having tasted defeat at any stage and add to the bronze medal he won in yesterday’s keirin.

“Niederlag pushed me all the way and I had to really execute my racing perfectly to beat him,” said Glaetzer.

“If I had made a mistake he probably would have won it.

“I raced really well, one of my best competitions that I have raced and I’m really happy with this result.”

The home crowd were left disappointed in the bronze medal contest as despite Ed Dawkins winning the second ride, of the best of three event, he was beaten in the decisive race by Germany’s Maximilian Levy.

Matthew Glaetzer was unbeaten throughout the duration of the men's sprint event ©Getty Images

A close finish to the men’s madison saw French pairing of Morgan Kneisky and Benjamin Thomas emerge as the winners due to winning the final sprint of the event after finishing level with Switzerland on 24 points.

Britain’s Mark Stewart and Germain Burton won bronze after ending on 13 points.

Reigning Olympic champion Lasse Hansen overhauled Britain’s Chris Latham in the final three events of the men’s omnium to win gold, with the Danish rider ending on a total of 208 points to his rival's 188.

Australia’s Glenn O’Shea completed the podium places on 165, eight clear of South Korea’s Sang-Hoon Park.

An excellent final day of competition saw Canada’s Allison Beveridge move to the top of the women’s omnium on 201 points, with Australia’s Annette Edmondson and Belgium’s Jolien D’Hoore claiming the silver and bronze medals on 188 and 182 respectively.