Germany's Friedrich breaks women's cycling record
Kristina Clonan of Australia and Steffie van der Peet of the Netherlands in action during the women’s cycling sprint at Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome. PHOTO: REUTERS
Germany's Lea Fried1rich smashed the women's sprint world record on Friday, just minutes after New Zealand's Ellesse Andrews did the same.
The 24-year-old blasted round the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines velodrome in 10.029secs during qualifying to lay down a marker ahead of the final on Sunday.
Her sizzling ride came after newly-minted Keirin gold medallist Andrews clocked 10.108 to better the previous world best (10.154) set by Canada's defending Olympic champion Kelsey Mitchell in 2019.
A new mark was on the cards after the Olympic record was lowered four times before Andrews and Friedrich took to the track.
A slew of world records have been set at the lightening-fast Paris velodrome, with nine before the exploits of Andrews and Friedrich.
France's Thomas lights up Olympic velodrome
Frenchman Benjamin Thomas ignited the Olympic velodrome on Thursday by claiming a gruelling omnium title while New Zealand's Ellesse Andrews charged to a "unreal" women's keirin gold.
In an amazing feat of strength and pace, Thomas, who was fourth in Tokyo three years ago, finished 11 points clear of Portugal's Iuri Leitao with Belgium's Fabio van den Bossche taking bronze
The omnium is made up of four different ensurance races -- the scratch, tempo, elimination and points -- with riders scoring points in each for an overall total.
"It was such a crazy race, I still don't believe the medal is mine. I will sleep with it," said Thomas, the 2017 and 2020 world champion. "Today was my day."
He led a pack of five that pulled away with 15 laps left in the opening 10km scratch race, finishing strongly to take the maximum 40 points ahead of Denmark's Niklas Larsen.
But it was Van den Bossche who seized the initiative in the tempo, finishing first to open an overall eight-point lead from Larsen and 10 clear of Leitao.
Van den Bossche came sixth in an elimination duel won by Britain's Ethan Hayter, but still took a 16-point advantage into the final 100-lap race from Thomas.
However, the Frenchman clawed back into the lead by winning a series of mid-race sprints before coming off his bike with 24 laps to go. Undeterred, he got back on to storm to victory.