# Richardson and Lysenko take European keirin titles in Konya

*By Simon | February 5, 2026*

---

![2026 UEC Track Elite European Championships](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/OH8_0512.jpg)

## 󠀁[Richardson and Lysenko take European keirin titles in Konya](https://globalkeirin.com/2026/02/richardson-and-lysenko-take-european-keirin-titles-in-konya/)󠁿

5 February 2026

[Matthew Richardson](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/matthew-richardson/) claimed
the UEC European keirin championship for 2026 in sensational style, snatching a
last-gasp victory over his perennial rival
[Harrie Lavreysen](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/harrie-lavreysen/), with
[Lowie Nulens](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/lowie-nulens/) sandwiched between
them for third.

Returning to the Konya velodrome where he set his flying 200 world record last
August, Richardson had defeated Lavreysen the previous evening, with their
sprint final going to a decisive third ride.

He went through Thursday’s keirin competition with a perfect record, winning his
first round by almost half a second – remarkable at this level, then posting the
fastest last-200 time of the day to win his semi.

In the final, Richardson and
[Harry Ledingham-Horn](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/harry-ledingham-horn/) sat
patiently at the rear of the line as the pacer left the track – and Lavreysen
could not resist the opportunity to attack immediately from the front, opening
up huge gaps between the riders.

TV commentator Carlton Kirby declared the race over with a lap left – ‘this is
theft almost… brilliant work by Harrie Lavreysen, he wanted revenge and he’s
going to get it here, he’s going to be European champion.’

But into the final lap, Richardson came out of the second corner with remarkable
speed, making up huge amounts of ground on the leaders – and only passing
Lavreysen at the very last moment.

![finalm](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/finalm.jpg)

_Photo finish image from swisstiming.com_

‘That was probably one of the toughest keirins I’ve ever won,’
[Richardson said afterwards](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wZmi3p4fQqg). ‘I’ve
had some very hard keirins, but I normally don’t win them. I drew 6, Harrie drew
1, and he took advantage of that situation. I knew straight away that this was
going to be an extremely hard race.

‘I just waited, bided my time, and struck when I thought it was right – and
luckily I had the legs for the finish.’

It’s the first time since 2018 that Lavreysen has gone to a major championship,
and not brought home a gold. ‘That takes some getting used to,’ he
[admitted](https://nos.nl/artikel/2601040-lavreysen-verliest-ook-keirinfinale-nederland-pakt-geen-enkele-titel-op-ek-baan)
. ‘I wasn’t in my top form here and that was conscious because I’m saving it for
the World Cup in China this year. It is difficult to be at my very best at every
major tournament.’

### 󠀁[UEC](https://globalkeirin.com/event/f7ed9e23/)󠁿 > 󠀁[Track Elite European Championships](https://globalkeirin.com/event/f7ed9e23/85e43763/)󠁿 > 󠀁[2026](https://globalkeirin.com/event/f7ed9e23/85e43763/38280410/)󠁿⏎ Final

<table>
        <tr><th colspan="4">Details</th></tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">Velodrome</td>
            <td colspan="2"><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/velodrome/konya/">Konya</a></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">Date</td>
            <td colspan="2">05 Feb 2026</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th colspan="4">UEC Track Elite European Championships 2026 : Final</th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th colspan="4">Result</th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th>Pos</th><th>Nat</th>
            <th>Rider</th>
            <th></th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
                <td><span>1</span></td>
                <td>GBR</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/matthew-richardson/">Matthew Richardson</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>2</span></td>
                <td>NED</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/harrie-lavreysen/">Harrie Lavreysen</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>3</span></td>
                <td>BEL</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/lowie-nulens/">Lowie Nulens</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>4</span></td>
                <td>AIN</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/nikita-kalachnik/">Nikita Kalachnik</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>5</span></td>
                <td>FRA</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/tom-derache/">Tom Derache</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>6</span></td>
                <td>GBR</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/harry-ledingham-horn/">Harry Ledingham-Horn</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr></table>

The day’s women’s event was missing several star names, with sprint gold and
silver medallists [Emma Finucane](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/emma-finucane/)
and [Sophie Capewell](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/sophie-capewell/) both
deciding to skip the event.

Like Richardson, individual neutral athlete
[Alina Lysenko](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/alina-lysenko/) also posted a
perfect record on the day – awarded first place in her first round, although she
was given the same time as the resurgent
[Mathilde Gros](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/mathilde-gros/); and then taking
her semi final ahead of
[Steffie van der Peet](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/steffie-van-der-peet/) and
[Helena Casas Roige](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/helena-casas-roige/).

The Russian rider swooped to take the lead in the final with Gros following in
her wake; she had a substantial gap at the line, with the French rider holding
off [Lea Sophie Friedrich](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/lea-sophie-friedrich/)
by a few centimetres.

![2026 UEC Track Elite European Championships](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/02/OH9_1136-1124x750.jpg)

_Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com_

### 󠀁[UEC](https://globalkeirin.com/event/f7ed9e23/)󠁿 > 󠀁[Track Elite European Championships](https://globalkeirin.com/event/f7ed9e23/85e43763/)󠁿 > 󠀁[2026](https://globalkeirin.com/event/f7ed9e23/85e43763/38280410/)󠁿⏎ Final

<table>
        <tr><th colspan="4">Details</th></tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">Velodrome</td>
            <td colspan="2"><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/velodrome/konya/">Konya</a></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">Date</td>
            <td colspan="2">05 Feb 2026</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th colspan="4">UEC Track Elite European Championships 2026 : Final</th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th colspan="4">Result</th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th>Pos</th><th>Nat</th>
            <th>Rider</th>
            <th></th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
                <td><span>1</span></td>
                <td>AIN</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/alina-lysenko/">Alina Lysenko</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>2</span></td>
                <td>FRA</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/mathilde-gros/">Mathilde Gros</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>3</span></td>
                <td>GER</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/lea-sophie-friedrich/">Lea Sophie Friedrich</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>4</span></td>
                <td>GBR</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/lauren-bell/">Lauren  Bell</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>5</span></td>
                <td>ESP</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/helena-casas-roige/">Helena Casas Roige</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>6</span></td>
                <td>NED</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/steffie-van-der-peet/">Steffie van der Peet</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr></table>

**Categories:** Original