The Netherlands got their first Track Cycling gold of Rio 2016 on Saturday as Elis Ligtlee stormed to the gold medal in the Women’s Keirin.

Ligtlee took control shortly after the Derny left the track and never looked like being caught, staying strong to secure her first Olympic title.

A late burst by Becky James saw her take the silver medal, edging ahead of Anna Meares of Australia, who had to settle for bronze.

Elis Ligtlee celebrates after taking the gold medal (AFP/Greg Baker)
Elis Ligtlee celebrates after taking the gold medal (AFP/Greg Baker)

The finalists

There were two semifinals in the Keirin, with the top three women in each race making it through to this final.

The first semifinal was won by Kristina Vogel of Germany, with Ligtlee finishing in second and Anastasiia Voinova of Russia in third place.

Cycling great Meares took the second semifinal, going past James who finished in second. Third place and the final qualifying position went to Lyubov Shulika of Ukraine.

Race begins under the Derny

The first five and a half laps of the Keirin take place behind a Derny, and this stage of the race was fairly uneventful.

Immediately, Voinova went to the front, settling in behind the Derny. Vogel settled into second place, with Meares in third, James in fourth, Ligtlee in fifth and Shulika in sixth.

This order did not change as the Derny increased in the pace, though towards the final couple of laps there were some gaps beginning to appear between each of the riders

Derny comes off the track; Ligtlee takes control

As soon as the Derny came off the track, Ligtlee attacked from fifth and went to the front whilst James was overtaken by Shulika as well the eventual champion.

Elis Ligtlee begins to take control of the Keirin final after the Derny went off (AFP/Eric Feferberg)
Elis Ligtlee begins to take control of the Keirin final after the Derny went off (AFP/Eric Feferberg)

Over the next lap very little change, with Ligtlee being closely followed by Meares and Voinova but didn’t look as if she was in too much trouble. The pace increased as the bell rang for the final lap, with James finally coming out of last place to come round the front and get back on even terms.

As they raced round the final corner, the Dutchwoman dug her heels and sprinted to gold, with no one coming too close to stopping her. Meares also put in a strong sprint but was edged out in the dying moments as James stormed round everyone and took silver by the narrowest of margins.

Voinova finished in fourth, with Shulika in fifth and Vogel in sixth.

The Keirin finalists come round the final corner, with Elis Ligtlee leading the way (AFP/Greg Baker0
The Keirin finalists come round the final corner, with Elis Ligtlee leading the way (AFP/Greg Baker0
VAVEL Logo
About the author
Oliver Dickson Jefford
20. English Literature student at the University of Southampton. Aspiring sports journalist from Hertfordshire.