Muhammad Shah Firdaus Sahrom took victory in the men’s keirin competition at the Track Nations Cup event in Konya, avenging his recent loss to Shinji Nakano at the Asian Track Championships.

With the French pair of Tom Derache and Sébastien Vigier riding side by side at the front of the bunch into the final lap, the Malaysian star timed his move out of the final corner to perfection.

He emerged from their slipstream at the last possible moment, passing tightly on the outside, and carrying enough speed not to worry about the fast-finishing Nakano – who had beaten him at home in Nilai last month.

‘I don’t know how I did it,’ he said afterwards. ‘It’s been a long day, and very tough racing since the first round. I think the team, the staff and coaches did a really good job, planning and everything.

‘I have been waiting a long time for this moment. I came second and third, quite a few times. But today is my day. I won gold – woo!’

Vigier held on for second, with Nakano snatching third ahead of Derache. Sam Dakin could only watch it all unfold in front of him, on his way to a fifth place finish.

In the minor final for 7th to 12th place, world champion Kento Yamasaki made an early move from last to first as the pacer exited the track, drawing a response from Dutchman Tijmen van Loon.

With a lap and a half remaining, Leigh Hoffman put down the power and left the bunch behind. Yamasaki was the only one able to follow, but he couldn’t get close.