Katy Marchant safely through to quarter-finals of women’s sprint as she beats Canada’s Lauriane Genest with Briton keen to atone for freak crash that ended her keirin hopes
Katy Marchant moved emphatically into the quarter-finals of the women’s sprint at the Izu Velodrome after beating Canada’s Lauriane Genest.
Marchant, whose hopes in the keirin were dashed by a crash that was no fault of her own, swooped onto the inside of Genest as the bell sounded for the final lap and had the legs to accelerate for the finish line.
It means Marchant advances to the quarter-finals later on Saturday without the need to enter the repechage.
Great Britain’s Katy Marchant beat Canada’s Lauriane Genest in the 1/8th round of the women’s sprint at the Izu Velodrome
The win saw Marchant through to the quarter-final race later in Saturday’s programme
Marchant (top) tailed Genest before swooping onto the inside as they entered the last lap
Marchant, 28, from Leeds, took bronze in the individual sprint at the 2016 Rio Games and will be hoping to upgrade on that in Sunday’s finals.
It was an improvement in her fortunes from the keirin earlier in the week when she was taken out by the Dutch rider Laurine van Riessen, who appeared to clip a wheel, swung up the bank and took Marchant out in the process.
The Dutch rider was knocked unconscious as a result of the crash, leaving her to received immediate treatment at the track side before being taken away on a stretcher.
Katy Marchant is taken out of the women’s keirin by Dutch rider Laurine van Riessen
Van Riessen appeared to clip a wheel in front and swung up to take Marchant out of the race
Van Riessen (left) lays injured on the floor while Marchant manages to get back to her feet
Marchant got back on her bike to finish the race but already knew she could not advance, with only the top four going through and no second chances at this stage of the competition.
But her hopes of claiming a medal in the sprint have been boosted.