Mina Sato rode a perfect patient race from the back of the line, to win the women’s world keirin title for the second successive year in Santiago.

Drawn in position five, the Japanese superstar was clearly on other riders’ minds as the derny left the track. The pace dropped suddenly, as other riders turned to look behind, awaiting the inevitable attack.

Sato accelerated with a lap and a half remaining, moving to the front as the bell rang for the final lap. Stefany Cuadrado, drawn six, couldn’t hold on to Sato’s wheel. Emma Finucane pounced, and chased Sato hard to the line, but lost by a wheel. Cuadrado led the rest home, several lengths back.

Sato adds gold to the silver she won in the individual sprint, earlier in the week.

Hetty van de Wouw, aiming for a historic fourth sprint gold out of four events at these championships, had had a scare in the quarter finals – initially declared ‘out’, crossing the line fifth in her heat, but reinstated following the relegation of Haruka Nakazawa for riding on the blue band in the dash to the finish. But she could only manage fourth in her semi final, as Sato grabbed the final qualifying spot behind Finucane and Vece.

She clearly had a point to prove going into the minor final, powering off the front with two laps left, and holding a big gap all the way to the line. Lauriane Genest overtook Steffie van der Peet to claim eighth, with Lauren Bell behind her for ninth.