Jeong Jong-jin made it three wins in a row in the rivalry which defines Korean keirin, leaving it to the very last moment to snatch victory from Im Chae-bin at the Gwangmyeong Speedom.

The K-Cycle Star Exhibition event, billed as a prelude to June’s Keirin King Of Kings meeting, went to a photo finish as the sport’s two biggest stars charged for the line.

The pair wasted no time in finding each other straight off the start line, with Im Chae-bin (5) slotting in behind Jeong Jong-jin (2) in the middle of the line. They proceeded to swap positions multiple times, feeling each other out before the pacer exited, and the race got properly underway.

Jung Haemin (3) led out of the final bend, but saw his lead disappear as first Im Chae-bin, then Jeong Jong-jin passed on his outside. Im Chae-bin had a half-wheel advantage, but Jeong Jong-jin was out of the saddle – and snatched the win with his final pedal-stroke, recording just short of 66 km/h for the final 200 metres. The official gap: one eighth of a wheel.

The commentator was confident that the man in black had won it; the man in black himself seemed initially uncertain.

Attention now turns to late June’s King Of Kings competition, second only to the year-end Grand Prix in the calendar. Jeong Jong-jin won it last year, one of his two wins from nine match-ups in 2025.