After a gentle introduction to competitive Japanese keirin, the international guest riders faced much tougher challenges on day two of the Keirin World Series meeting at a wet Hofu.

Ellesse Andrews 5 rode with patience and confidence, letting Sakura Yamamoto 3 lead out, and holding second position until the time was right. For a moment it looked like she might get sandwiched; but she moved above the leader as she faded on the inside, opening up a path to the front – and a second win for the Olympic champion.

Mathilde Gros 3 also rode a patient race, attacking from the back as they entered the final lap. She took the high line over the top of the entire field, and rolled in for the win, half a length ahead of Uta Kume 7.

We predicted that Joe Truman 3 had the hardest draw; and so it proved. He claimed the front with just over a lap remaining, with veteran star Nitta Yudai 2 taking his wheel. Yudai made his move out of the final bend, passing the British rider as they entered the home straight.

Truman had just enough left for a throw at the line, but it wasn’t enough to take second spot from Hiroya Kado 4. It means he misses out on the S-Class final on the last day of the Hofu programme.

Harrie Lavreysen 5 took the front just as the bell began to ring, opening up a healthy gap. For a moment it seemed like Masahiro Abe 1 might get alongside; but the Dutch superstar had plenty left, winning by two lengths.

On Friday, the final day of the meeting, Truman is first up, in race 8 (14:31 🇯🇵 / 06:31 🇬🇧). Andrews and Gros will line up together in the women’s final at 15:32 🇯🇵 (07:32 🇬🇧). Lavreysen is in the S-Class final half an hour later (16:03 🇯🇵 / 08:03 🇬🇧). You can watch it live on YouTube.