There was disappointment for the characteristically noisy London crowd on night four of the UCI Track Champions League, with home favourites Emma Finucane and Matthew Richardson both missing out in the keirin finals.

Series leader Alina Lysenko had suffered a shock first-round exit in the sprint competition; but that meant she had two fewer races in her legs as the evening reached its conclusion.

When Finucane moved to the front with a lap and a half remaining in the keirin final, the Russian rider – competing as an Individual Neutral Athlete – got on her wheel, and once again timed her overtake to perfection.

Colombia’s Martha Bayona – another first-round loser in the sprint – was third, just about enough to keep the women’s sprint competition alive into the final night.

But Lysenko could secure the overall before Saturday’s sprinting is completed, if results go her way. She leads Bayona by 30 points, with Ellesse Andrews and Emma Finucane both 7 points further back.

Harrie Lavreysen denied Richardson a victory in his first competitive appearance in London as a British rider.

The two met once again in the sprint final: Lavreysen was at full power at the bell, neutralising Richardson’s customary flying 200-style attack, and although the former Aussie was closing the gap into the home straight, he sat up knowing he wouldn’t pass the Dutchman.

In the keirin final, Lavreysen moved early to claim the front with a lap and a half remaining, and Richardson back in fifth. Colombia’s Cristian Ortega followed, and seemed perfectly placed to snatch the win. And then, somehow, Richardson arrived on the scene into the home straight.

But Harrie made it to the line in first place – and crucially for the overall, Ortega held on to second, depriving Richardson of a few valuable league points.

Lavreysen has won 4 of the season’s 8 competitions so far. He takes a healthy 13 point lead into tomorrow’s finale: it’s not over, but Richardson’s only hope is for Harrie to have a bad night.

Remember, we start early tomorrow: racing begins with the sprint first round as always, at 5.30pm London time (18.30 CET) on streaming platforms. TV joins at 6.30pm/19.30.