# Fairytale home farewell for the Pocket Rocketman 🎥

*By Simon | April 25, 2026*

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![UCI Track World Cup: Nilai](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/AW5_7399.jpg)

## 󠀁[Fairytale home farewell for the Pocket Rocketman 🎥](https://globalkeirin.com/2026/04/fairytale-home-farewell-for-the-pocket-rocketman/)󠁿

25 April 2026

Malaysian master
[Azizulhasni Awang](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/azizulhasni-awang/) delivered
the performance his fans so desperately wanted, winning the men’s keirin in his
final major racing appearance on home soil before his (supposed) retirement at
the end of this season.

Much of the build-up this week had focused on the mutual respect, and the likely
duel, between the winners of the Track World Cup’s two previous rounds: Awang
and [Harrie Lavreysen](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/harrie-lavreysen/).

‘I didn’t expect him to be this quick at this age, the Dutchman said of the
Pocket Rocketman. ‘I watched him winning in Perth, and I’m afraid he’s going to
be even better here. It’s a really big race for him in his home town, but I
really look forward to racing him.’

![UCI Track World Cup: Nilai](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/AW6_9835-1125x750.jpg)

_Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com_

‘Harrie performed really well in Hong Kong’, Awang responded. ‘He will be
competing in Malaysia for the first time. I want to race against him as well,
especially after such a long time.’

The two lined up together in the second round: Lavreysen won it, but Awang
claimed the second place he needed to proceed to the semi final stages, just
ahead of [Han Xie](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/han-xie/).

Awang narrowly won his semi, ahead of world number one
[Nicholas Paul](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/nicholas-paul/); Lavreysen was
second behind [Minato Nakaishi](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/minato-nakaishi/)
in a very tight finish, with first and sixth separated by just 0.216s.

![nilai16](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/nilai16.jpg)

_Tissot_

And in the final, perhaps inevitably, Awang and Lavreysen were the two in front
at the finish line.

[Henric Hackmann](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/henric-hackmann/) had a big
lead going into the last lap, with Awang right at the back of the line, right
behind Lavreysen – and clearly planning to follow the Dutchman’s inevitable
charge.

[Nicholas Paul](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/nicholas-paul/) played his hand
early, passing the German in the back straight, with Lavreysen driving hard
behind – towing the Pocket Rocketman behind him.

But exiting corner four, Awang sneaked up Lavreysen’s inside, and past Paul for
a sensational victory.

And his weekend isn’t yet finished: Awang goes again tomorrow in a packed
individual sprint competition, with 54 names on the start list.

### 󠀁[UCI](https://globalkeirin.com/event/4162d0bb/)󠁿 > 󠀁[Track World Cup](https://globalkeirin.com/event/4162d0bb/c93e79c7/)󠁿 > 󠀁[2026](https://globalkeirin.com/event/4162d0bb/c93e79c7/bf1509f7/)󠁿 > 󠀁[Round 3](https://globalkeirin.com/event/4162d0bb/c93e79c7/bf1509f7/d6bb0523/)󠁿⏎ Final

<table>
        <tr><th colspan="4">Details</th></tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">Velodrome</td>
            <td colspan="2"><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/velodrome/nilai/">Nilai</a></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">Date</td>
            <td colspan="2">25 Apr 2026</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th colspan="4">UCI Track World Cup 2026 Round 3 : 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>MAS</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/azizulhasni-awang/">Azizulhasni Awang</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>TTO</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/nicholas-paul/">Nicholas Paul</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>4</span></td>
                <td>JPN</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/minato-nakaishi/">Minato Nakaishi</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>5</span></td>
                <td>FRA</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/rayan-helal/">Rayan Helal</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>6</span></td>
                <td>GER</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/henric-hackmann/">Henric Hackmann</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr></table>

**Categories:** Original
**Tags:** uci, ucitwc