# Richardson reignites the TCL rivalry, but there’s no stopping Lysenko

*By Simon | November 30, 2024*

![Richardson reignites the TCL rivalry, but there’s no stopping Lysenko](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/AW6_7982.jpg)

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![](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/AW6_7982-jpg.webp)

## 󠀁[Richardson reignites the TCL rivalry, but there’s no stopping Lysenko](https://globalkeirin.com/2024/11/richardson-reignites-the-rivalry-but-theres-no-stopping-lysenko/)󠁿

30 November 2024

**Alina Lysenko**‘s amazing run of form continued on the second evening of Track
Champions League action in Apeldoorn, with **Harrie Lavreysen** and
**Matthew Richardson** sharing the spoils in the men’s competition.

Lysenko, riding as an Individual Neutral Athlete, became the first rider in TCL
history to win five events in a row, with victory once again in both the sprint
and keirin.

They tried everything to stop her in the keirin final. **Ellesse Andrews**
didn’t like her position near the back of the line, claiming the front of the
race, towing **Mathilde Gros** behind her. With Lysenko back in fourth, Gros
tried going early. When Lysenko made her move, **Steffie van der Peet** jumped
on her wheel and hoped for glory in the home straight.

But it was all to no avail. At the line, it was Lysenko by a bike length once
again. And it was never really in doubt.

![UCI Track Champions League - Round 3: Apeldoorn](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/AW6_5422.jpg)

_Just no stopping Lysenko right now (Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com)_

The series now goes to London for its customary double-header at the 2012
OIympic track at Lee Valley. Lysenko arrives with a 29 point lead – in a
competition with only 20 points for an event win. She could conceivably have it
all sewn up with a full evening to go.

It was another disappointing night for **Emma Finucane**. Several times now, we
have seen riders make naive mistakes in the unfamiliar setting of a three-up.
This time, with Finucane watching **Alla Biletska** behind her, **Miriam Vece**
found herself out front with too big a lead to ignore – so she kicked before the
first lap was finished, and held on to knock out the Welsh world champion in the
first round.

And Finucane again failed to make the keirin final, unable to get past Vece and
**Daniela Gaxiola** as they tussled for second behind Gros. Her TCL isn’t over
by any means: she sits fifth in the overall standings, after her strong
performance in Paris, but she will be glad to be leaving Apeldoorn.

![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_4GNFp-8cG8/maxresdefault.jpg)

_Sprint and keirin highlights from day two at Apeldoorn_

In the men’s sprint competition, having avoided each other the night before, we
got a double helping of the Harrie Lavreysen-Matthew Richardson rivalry. The
Dutchman read his ~Australian~ British opponent beautifully in the sprint final,
defending the front and neutralising Richo’s inevitable attack at the bell.
Richardson found himself stuck on the hip into corner three, and sat up into the
home straight.

But he wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. In the keirin final,
Lavreysen was drawn at the back. He followed **Leigh Hoffman** to the front with
two laps remaining, maybe earlier than he would have wanted? – so he slotted in
behind the Australian, into a gap ahead of his British rival. But Richardson
attacked into the final lap, getting around Lavreysen into corner one, and
powering on to an impressive win.

Lavreysen will take a lead of just five points to Lee Valley – but Richardson
will look forward to having the noisy London crowd on his side for the first
time.

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**Categories:** Original
**Tags:** ucitcl