Australian cyclist Leigh Hoffman has claimed silver in the individual sprint at the UCI World Championships in Shanghai.
Hoffman, who won the bronze medal at the world championships 12 months ago, was beaten by Dutch legend Harrie Lavreysen in the gold medal race.
“To come away with a silver is still pretty amazing,” Hoffman told AusCycling.
“But it is bitter sweet to be so close to getting a world title and having it slip away.”
It was Australia and Hoffman’s second medal of the world championships, after the men’s team sprint squad won silver to the Netherlands on the first night at the spectacular Shanghai Velodrome.
Lavreysen won both sprints in the gold medal match, but there is little doubt that the 29-year-old five-time Olympic champion was still made to work for it.
Hoffman was the fastest qualifier for the sprint, the South Australian laying down a stunning 9.285 for his flying 200m on Saturday, and progressed comfortably through to the final.
Leigh Hoffman was always underdog against Harrie Lavreysen. (Reuters: Kacper Pempel)
Leading off in their first match up, Hoffman appeared to be in control before briefly dipping off the racing line.
That momentary lapse washed the Whyalla man’s speed and allowed Lavreysen to power past him in the home straight.
The Dutchman made no mistake in the second race, leading from the front with brutal power to stay away and win a record-extending 23rd world title.
“Obviously wanted to win it but just didn’t come away with it,” Hoffman said.
“Lavreysen, he’s won 23 world titles so he’s got a ton of experience whereas for myself, that’s my first gold-silver [race] at world champs.”
No rider has managed to beat Lavreysen in an individual sprint at a world championships since Australian Matthew Glaetzer won gold in 2018.
But Hoffman showed once again that he is getting closer to becoming the first man to wrest the rainbow jersey from Lavreysen shoulders in almost a decade.
“I had a lot of confidence going through the rounds yesterday and today,” Hoffman said.
“Beating [Japan’s] Kaiya Ota in straight sets [in the semifinal], someone who has beaten me at the Olympics and beaten me at Copenhagen Worlds as well, it was good to get some runs on the board against him.”
Leigh Hoffman got one over Japan’s Kaiya Ota in the semifinal. (Reuters: Kacper Pempel)
Missing from the sprint field at these world championships was former Australian rider and world record holder in the flying 200m, Matt Richardson.
Richardson was withdrawn from the British squad earlier in the week over alleged misconduct, with the 27-year-old writing on social media that he both understood the seriousness of the allegations and would cooperate with any investigation.
“I understand the seriousness of what has been raised in recent reports about my withdrawal from the 2026 UCI Track Cycling World Championships,” Richardson wrote.
“British Cycling has said it looks into matters like this through its established procedures. I will cooperate fully with its processes.
“I assure everyone that I will do so properly, and appropriately and with contrition for the feelings of anyone who might be affected.
“Out of fairness to everyone involved, and on advice, like British Cycling, I will not be commenting further until any process is complete.”
The UK-born, Perth-raised rider won three Olympic medals for Australia before switching allegiance to Great Britain after the 2024 Paris Games.
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