# Truman ends Lavreysen’s winning streak in Japan

*By Simon | August 9, 2026*

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![Screenshot](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/08/youwin.jpg)

## 󠀁[Truman ends Lavreysen’s winning streak in Japan](https://globalkeirin.com/2026/08/truman-ends-lavreysens-winning-streak-in-japan/)󠁿

9 August 2026

[Harrie Lavreysen](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/harrie-lavreysen/)‘s run of
success on the velodromes of Japanese keirin finally came to an end on Sunday,
with fellow foreign guest
[Joe Truman](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/joseph-truman/) taking the win at
Wakayama.

The reigning world champion had previously won 12 in a row, dating back to the
first Keirin World Series event in early June.

On paper, the meeting at Wakayama was the highlight of the Series: it was the
only event at the higher GIII level, where the other 9 were all FI. That meant
it could have attracted men in the top SS tier of Japanese domestic racing… but
none took up the offer.

Matters was even more stark on the women’s side: they were only granted a single
race on the final day – which happened to clash with one of the highlights of
the women’s calendar, the Women’s All-Star Keirin at Sasebo. Of the current top
20, only one would join the foreign stars at Wakayama.

It was Lavreysen 3 who fired the men’s final into life as the pacer prepared to
exit, moving towards the front with a long lap and a half remaining – with
Truman 5, a rider noted for his sustained speed, on his wheel.

A gap opened up between the pair as they entered the final bend: was Lavreysen
pulling away, or was Truman giving himself a space to attack into? It proved to
be the latter: entering the home straight, the British rider pulled alongside
the Dutchman, and was a full length ahead of him at the finish, with Kota
Matsuzaki 9 stretching to claim second place.

[https://wm.st.keirin.jp/wm-keirin55/20260809-55-03-12-01-00.mp4](https://wm.st.keirin.jp/wm-keirin55/20260809-55-03-12-01-00.mp4)

The one-off women’s race produced the inevitable 1-2-3 for the foreign riders,
with [Ellesse Andrews](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/ellesse-andrews/) 6 taking
the win on her return to Japan.

The foreign stars lurked at the back of the line, and were happy to allow an
early attack to go ahead, as they entered the final lap. Van de Wouw 4 closed
the gap down the back straight, with Andrews following, and Gros 2 getting
aboard the train as it passed her.

Into the home straight, Andrews struggled to hold her line as she gave it
everything, edging ahead in the final few metres, and clinching the win with a
perfectly-timed throw at the line.

[https://wm.st.keirin.jp/wm-keirin55/20260809-55-03-11-01-00.mp4](https://wm.st.keirin.jp/wm-keirin55/20260809-55-03-11-01-00.mp4)

Three more events remain in the Keirin World Series: the next one is at
Yokkaichi, starting on 17 August: Truman, Gros, Andrews are currently expected
to participate.
[Matthew Richardson](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/matthew-richardson/) was
also due to race, but he has now officially withdrawn from all Series events
after his
[horrific crash](https://globalkeirin.com/2026/07/richardson-taken-out-as-lavreysen-takes-another-world-series-win-sato-wins-womens/)
prior to the Commonwealth Games.

**Categories:** Original
**Tags:** japan, keirinworldseries