Hoffman takes sprint silver at world track cycling championships

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 18 Oct, 17:31 · Archive

Australian sprinter Leigh Hoffman won silver in the individual sprint at the world track cycling championships in Shanghai, losing to Netherlands rider Harrie Lavreysen.

Leigh Hoffman won silver in the individual sprint at the world track cycling championships in Shanghai, losing to Harrie Lavreysen of the Netherlands in the final. Lavreysen defeated Hoffman in two straight races to claim his eighth successive world championship title and 23rd world championship gold in total.

Hoffman, a 26-year-old from Adelaide, had qualified fastest for the sprint with a time of 9.285 seconds in the flying 200 metres on Saturday. However, Lavreysen raised his performance for the final itself. The Australian said the result was 'bittersweet to be so close to getting a world title and having it slip away', though he acknowledged that 'to come away with a silver is still pretty amazing'.

This was Hoffman's second medal at the championships. He had earlier helped Australia's men's sprint trio to team silver. Hoffman remarked that Lavreysen's extensive experience gave him an advantage, saying: 'Lavreysen's won 23 world titles so he's got a ton of experience whereas for myself, that's my first gold-silver race at a world champs.' The result positions Hoffman as a likely challenger to Lavreysen at the Los Angeles Olympics.

How it is being reported

• Aussie sprinter's silver lining at tough cycling worldsA tough world track cycling championships for Australia has ended with sprint silver medallist Leigh Hoffman providing a rousing finale in Shanghai.Perth Now · 18 Oct, 16:59
• Aussie sprinter's silver lining at tough cycling worldsA tough world track cycling championships for Australia has ended with sprint silver medallist Leigh Hoffman providing a rousing finale in Shanghai.The West Australian · 18 Oct, 16:59

In this story: Leigh Hoffman · Harrie Lavreysen · Shanghai · Netherlands · Australia · Los Angeles

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