“This victory is an important milestone for both his career and British track cycling”
Matt Richardson made history at the 2026 European Track Championships in Konya, Turkey, by winning the men’s sprint gold. He became the first British man to claim the European sprint title.
In the final, Richardson faced Dutch star Harrie Lavreysen, who had been unbeaten in major sprint finals since 2019. After losing the first ride-off race, Richardson fought back in the next races and held off Lavreysen to secure the victory.
During qualifying, Richardson posted a flying 200 m time of 8.857 seconds, one of the fastest of the championships. This speed helped him dominate in the sprint rounds and ultimately win the gold medal.
Richardson, who switched to compete for Great Britain in 2024 after previously representing Australia, said he was proud to wear the European champion’s jersey.
The win added to a successful championships for Great Britain, which also saw world records in team pursuit and other strong individual performances. Richardson’s victory marked a major milestone for British track cycling.