Emma Finucane Now Geared Up For Serious Crack At Track Champions League Title

By Alys Haynes

Wales’ Emma Finucane has revealed her goals for the second round of the UCI Track Champions League have changed.

The two-time world champion is in the Netherlands this week to compete for Great Britain and defend her lead in the Women’s Sprint.

Finucane – who claimed a narrow and exciting first round victory in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines in France last week – has admitted her surprise in winning the race.

But she insists she intends to fight to retain her blue leader’s jersey once again in Apeldoorn on Friday.

“It’s my first time in the jersey so for me it’s really exciting,” said the Carmarthen rider, who won Olympic gold in the team sprint in Paris this summer.

“I didn’t think coming into the UCI that I would be up with a chance. After the Olympics and World Championships, I didn’t know what form I would be in. But I really enjoyed the weekend and I am looking forward to Apeldoorn and seeing how I can race and hold the lead.”

Incredible performances from Welsh stars at the UCI Track Champions League opener!

Emma Finucane: Topped Women’s Sprint standings with gold in the Sprint & silver in the Keirin
Anna Morris: 4th in Points race
Jess Roberts: 6th in Elimination race

– Mathew Wells,… pic.twitter.com/nHre8fI2Cl

— Beicio Cymru (@BeicioCymru) November 26, 2024

The 21-year-old originally stated that her goal for the league this year was to “have fun and enjoy the experience”, but when reflecting on her first-round success, she has revised her plans.

Finucane added: “Now that I’m in it (first place), I want to stay in it.

“My goal was to enjoy racing my bike and being in the mix and I definitely want to maintain that. But now that I’ve got the leader’s jersey I really do want to try and hold on to it and see how I do in the next rounds.

“But it’s going to be tough.”

In the Keirin race, Finucane finished in second place behind the Russian, Alina Lysenko.

Lysenko, who raced as an Independent Neutral Athlete in Paris was branded “shock of the night” after stealing the win in the final from the Welsh athlete.

Reflecting on that Keirin race and looking forward to this weekend, Finucane added: “Lysenko passed us all, so there’s definitely some work to do there. She will be one to watch, for sure.

“There’s some really good rivalries in this race which I’m excited to be a part of.”

The competition kicks off on Friday November 29 for another exhilarating weekend of top level cycling.

Wales’ Emma Finucane Reveals Pride In Retaining Sprint World Title