Wang Lijuan claimed the win in the women’s keirin in Nilai, adding another gold medal to the Chinese sprint squad’s recent haul.
The 23 year old, fourth in both previous rounds of the Track World Cup, won her two early rides on the day; but could only manage third in her semi final behind Emma Finucane in sparkling form, and world sprint champion Hetty van de Wouw.
The final was a tight affair from the moment the derny exited. Wang forced her way to the front, squeezing between Stefany Cuadrado and van de Wouw, with the trio forming a wall across the bottom of the track. Trapped on the inside, Lauriane Genest was forced down on to the blue band; and when she flicked back up on to the boards, the bunch was scattered.
Cuadrado saw her opportunity, and played her hand earlier than she probably would have liked, leading into the final lap. Genest followed in her wake, and snatched the lead out of corner two as the Colombian began to fade.
Entering the home straight, we were back in a tight bunch, with Genest battling for the line, but with Wang carrying all the speed out of the final bend.
The Chinese rider won by almost a bike length; but the photo finish was very much needed to separate the three behind.
Daniela Gaxiola got second, taking home a silver medal after a patchy day which saw her needing two repechages to progress.
Lauriane Genest crossed the line in third – but a few minutes later, the PanAmerican champion found herself relegated to sixth place, with the commissaires judging that she had ‘entered the sprinter’s lane when the opponent was already there’.
Finucane, who had blasted through the competition’s early rounds, was upgraded to bronze.
UCI > Track World Cup > 2026 > Round 3
Final
| Details | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Velodrome | Nilai | ||
| Date | 26 Apr 2026 | ||
| UCI Track World Cup 2026 Round 3 : Final | |||
| Result | |||
| Pos | Nat | Rider | |
| 1 | CHN | Wang Lijuan | |
| 2 | MEX | Daniela Gaxiola | |
| 3 | GBR | Emma Finucane | |
| 4 | COL | Stefany Cuadrado | |
| 5 | NED | Hetty van de Wouw | |
| 6 | CAN | Lauriane Genest | REL |
Wang was also declared the overall winner of the Track World Cup’s keirin competition: although, as one of only two women to have appeared at all three rounds, her position at the top of the table was confirmed before the final even started. Her team-mate Yuan Liying, who opted out of keirin for this final round, was second, with Finucane’s two third places enough for third overall.
