WA’s Matthew Richardson will go for a gold medal in the track cycling individual sprint after winning his semifinal over the Netherlands’ Jeffrey Hoogland.
Having already claimed bronze as part of Australia’s team sprint outfit, the Midland Cycling Club product is now at least guaranteed an individual silver after sealing his spot in the final with a comprehensive 2-0 win over the Dutch rider.
Hoogland opted to start from the front in both heats, which proved an error as Richardson as showed off his brilliant closing speed to get over the line first.
The performance puts an exclamation point on a period of rapid improvement for the 25-year-old, who was eliminated in the round of 32 in the same event in Tokyo.
He will come up against Harrie Lavreysen, another Dutch rider, in the final, which is slated to start at 12.04am.
More to come