Track Worlds: Lavreysen's Netherlands win team sprint as Wiebes edges Gillespie for third scratch title

The Netherlands and hosts China claimed the team sprint titles and Lorena Wiebes won the women's scratch race for a third year in a row as the 2026 UCI Track Cycling World Championships opened in Shanghai on Wednesday, 14 October. The five-day championships at the new velodrome in the city's Chongming District run until Sunday, 18 October, with about 400 riders from 46 nations chasing 22 world titles.

Dutch speed too much for Australia

Harrie Lavreysen, the favourite in every sprint event this week, began his campaign with gold alongside Jeffrey Hoogland and Roy van den Berg. The Dutch trio clocked 41.954 seconds in the men's team sprint final to beat Australia, whose line-up of Leigh Hoffman, Ryan Elliott and Daniel Barber stopped the clock at 42.470.

The silver was still a significant result for Australia. ABC News reported that it was the country's fifth consecutive world championship medal in the event, and the Australians had knocked out a British team missing the withdrawn Matthew Richardson in the first round. Home riders Jin Zhiheng, Li Zhiwei and Liu Qi took the bronze for China.

China delight the home crowd

There was a gold for the hosts in the women's team sprint. Jiang Yulu, Tong Mengqi and Yuan Liying recorded 45.578 to beat a Great Britain trio of Sophie Capewell, Emma Finucane and Rhianna Parris-Smith (45.933). Germany's Lea Sophie Friedrich, Pauline Grabosch and Clara Schneider won bronze in 46.276.

For Finucane, the silver was an encouraging start to a week in which she leads Britain's challenge in the individual sprint events.

Wiebes wins by less than half a wheel

The women's scratch race, a 10km bunch race over 40 laps, came down to the final lap. Wiebes launched her sprint first and only Ireland's Lara Gillespie could follow, closing the gap through the final bend but falling just short at the line. The Irish Times put the winning margin at less than half a wheel length. Portugal's Maria Martins took bronze.

It was a third straight scratch race world title for the 27-year-old Dutch rider, who is also the defending omnium champion and races that event on Friday, 16 October. Gillespie, 25, became the first Irish woman to win a world title in any discipline when she took the elimination race a year ago. This was her tenth runner-up finish of the season, and Wiebes had also beaten her narrowly in two sprint finishes at the Tour of Chongming Island the previous weekend.

Phinney's comeback and what comes next

The opening day also marked the return of Taylor Phinney to international track racing. The American rode in the US men's team pursuit squad, which qualified seventh but lost to France in the first round and missed the medal rides.

Thursday, 15 October, brings five more finals: the men's and women's team pursuits, the women's elimination race, the men's scratch race and the men's keirin, an event closely followed by Malaysian fans. The men's sprint, Lavreysen's signature event, is on the final day, Sunday, 18 October.

Key takeaways

• The Netherlands (Hoogland, Lavreysen, Van den Berg) won men's team sprint gold in 41.954, beating Australia.
• China won the women's team sprint ahead of Great Britain and Germany.
• Lorena Wiebes won a third straight women's scratch title, edging Ireland's Lara Gillespie.
• Taylor Phinney returned to world championship track racing with the US team pursuit squad.
• The championships run until Sunday, 18 October, with five finals on Thursday including the men's keirin.

FAQ

Where are the 2026 Track Cycling World Championships being held? They are at the velodrome in Shanghai's Chongming District, from Wednesday, 14 October to Sunday, 18 October.

Who won the men's team sprint at the 2026 Track Worlds? The Netherlands won with Jeffrey Hoogland, Harrie Lavreysen and Roy van den Berg. Australia took silver and China bronze.

Who won the women's scratch race? Lorena Wiebes of the Netherlands won ahead of Ireland's Lara Gillespie, with Portugal's Maria Martins third.

Sources: Cyclingnews, ABC News, The Irish Times, Cycling Weekly