Denmark upset Track Cycling odds to win women's madison gold

The Dutch spring a surprise with unexpected outcome on the final day of Track Cycling at Glasgow 2018.

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If the stage had been set for track cyclists Kirsten Wild (NED) and Katie Archibald (GBR) to act out one final gold medal duel on the last day of the Glasgow 2018 European Championships competition, then the understudies from Denmark had clearly not read the script.

The women's madison had started so well for Wild and Archibald, as the multiple European Champions were propelled through the early sprints by their partners Amy Pieters (NED) and three-time Olympic Champion Laura Kenny (GBR). All four riders were blindsided, however, by a Danish-led breakaway halfway through the race, which brought an unassailable 20-point bonus for Amalie Dideriksen and Julie Leth (DEN).

"I wasn't sure that we would win at that point (as) so many laps were still left," Dideriksen said. "The Dutch and the Brits are really strong teams so we needed to get some more points but luckily we held them up until the line. The race was secured before the last sprint and it was good because there was nothing left in the tank."

Russia took silver and Netherlands bronze as the Brits finished fourth.

In the men's keirin, Stefan Botticher (GER) capped a remarkable return to elite racing following a two-year injury lay-off by adding gold to his sprint silver and team sprint bronze.

"I never expected this but I was always hoping to come back," the 26-year-old said. "Even two weeks before the European Championships I didn't imagine this. At some moments I didn't want to be on the bike because I had a lot of problems with my knee and my back."

On a day of upsets at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, Emirates Arena, Mathilde Gros (FRA) surprised even herself by outpacing World Champion Nicky Degrendele (BEL) in the women's keirin to win her second gold of Glasgow 2018.

"I saw her wheel just behind me and when I passed the line I thought, 'Is it me? Am I European Champion?'" Gros said. "I looked at the TV and thought, 'Maybe, yes'. Then I saw myself up there in first position and thought, 'Wow, it's me'. I couldn't believe it."

The exertions of winning three golds already at Glasgow 2018 appeared to have taken their toll on Russia's Daria Shmeleva, who needed the extra repechage race to advance in the keirin and had to settle for bronze.

In the first gold medal event of Tuesday, Great Britain's Matthew Walls powered to victory in the men's elimination race.