Two world records fall as ARA Australian Cycling Team win seven medals at Junior Track Worlds

The ARA Australian Cycling Team has delivered a seven-medal and double world record return from the 2024 UCI Junior Track World Championships in Luoyang, China.

Rising sprint star Tayte Ryan celebrated two world titles in the men's sprint and men's 1000m time trial after watching Nicole Duncan defend her women's scratch race rainbow jersey on the first day of racing at Velodrome of New District of Luoyang City.

Ryan dominated the two-day sprint competition from start to finish and became the first Australian junior to break the sub-10 seconds marker for the flying 200-metres after powering to a time of 9.884 in qualifying.

The South Australian returned to defend his 1000m time trial world championship on the final day and saved his best for the final, setting a new world record time of 59.875 and becoming the first-ever junior to go into the sub-minute club for the kilo.

"I felt a bit disappointed after my qualifying ride because I knew that that would likely be my only chance to go for the world record, but after resting during the day I felt I had recovered really well from the first ride, and I knew that I needed to pull out the ride of my life if I wanted to beat Henry Hobbs," Ryan said.

"I think knowing that I needed to go significantly faster than qualifying to be in with a chance for the rainbows pushed me to go sub-one minute. I don’t think I’ve ever gone so deep in a kilo before.

"I was really surprised seeing a 59 on the board when I crossed the line, it's a pretty weird feeling knowing I’ve made history with that ride. It’s something I can’t even begin to wrap my head around and I don’t think I ever will."

Ryan said the sprint competition was the hardest he had ever done after the entire top-eight qualified under 10 seconds.

"As I rode through the rounds I felt more and more comfortable and I’m really proud to have taken away the sprint title," he said.

"That’s the big apple of the junior sprint world so I’m really over the moon.

"I’ve had my sights on the national record for a long time and have gotten so close a few times before, so I’m happy to put that one away. It's pretty crazy to think about."

Duncan's successful defence of her scratch race world championship was a masterclass in timing a winning move.

The Central Coast Cycling Club product said it felt special to defend her world title.

"The thought of going back-to-back in the scratch race is something that I have wanted to pull off since winning in Colombia," Duncan said.

"Last year was a great achievement to win, but this year being able to defend, it was next level.

"The race played out exactly how I wanted it to with no attacks getting off the front, all I had to do was be patient and wait for the right time to launch my sprint.

"It was such a special moment when I crossed the line in first place and confirm that all my hours of training had paid off.

"The scratch race is a very unpredictable race and I am so happy to have won it twice, which I don’t think has happened before."

Duncan added an impressive omnium silver medal two days later following a gusty points race performance.

The 18-year-old entered the deciding race of the omnium in fifth position but fought back by earning points on five out of six opportunities and won the last double points sprint to snatch silver.

It was a day of the highest ups and lowest downs for Holmes on Day 3 after setting a 3000m individual pursuit junior world record qualifying performance of 3:04.161 ended in heartbreak in the gold medal final.

Holmes led every lap but the last in the fight for the rainbow jersey versus Great Britain's Henry Hobbs and lost by 0.086 of a second at the finish.

"Over the moon to get the new world record in qualifying. A lot of time and effort has gone into being able to achieve that goal and only possible from the help of many people," Holmes said.

"In the final, to be less than 0.1 of a second from the win was heartbreaking. At the moment, a silver feels like nothing, but I'll reset and get ready for road worlds in a month.

"It was a great week with the whole team and especially our team pursuit boys where we were close to claiming the bronze, after only being together for a week, so, to be so close to the podium was amazing."

Lilyth Jones won women's 2000m individual pursuit silver after a sensational qualifying ride that had her top of the board for the gold medal final.

Alex Hewes came out swinging in the men's omnium and was tied for the lead heading into the final points race.

Hewes fought hard in the deciding race to eventually finish with bronze.

ARA Australian Cycling Team medal summary from the 2024 UCI Junior Track World Championships

Gold

• Nicole Duncan - Women's scratch race
• Tayte Ryan - Men's sprint and new flying 200m junior national record (9.884)
• Tayte Ryan - Men's 1000m time trial and new junior world record (59.875)

Silver

• Wil Holmes - Men's 3000m individual pursuit and new junior world record (3:04.161)
• Nicole Duncan - Women's omnium
• Lilyth Jones - Women's 2000m individual pursuit

Bronze

• Alex Hewes - Men's omnium

Feature picture: UCI/SWpix.com