gaviria

Young Colombian Fernando Gaviria produced a masterful performance to win the men’s omnium title at the World Track Championships on Saturday.

Australian 2012 champion Glenn O’Shea took silver with Italian Elia Viviani in the bronze at the national velodrome in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, near Paris.

But it was the mature performance from 20-year-old Gaviria that most impressed as he controlled proceedings in the final discipline of six, the points race, to win by 15 clear points.

Gaviria, who announced himself to the world ofcycling last month by beating Mark Cavendish in two sprint finishes at the Tour de San Luis, led from the second discipline when he finished second in the individual pursuit after a third place in the opening scratch race.

Although he didn’t win any of the six disciplines, the 2012 world junior champion at both the omnium and madison consistency ensured he remained clear of his rivals.

He also struck early in the points race, gaining a lap to earn 20 points and open up a huge lead on Viviani, who had begun the final discipline in second.

O’Shea was dropping down while 2013 champion Aaron Gate of New Zealand made a brave bid to get amongst the medals by twice gaining a lap.

Although, having started the discipline in 12th and 66 points off a medal, Gate’s was always a forlorn hope — he finished fifth overall.

O’Shea struck next and gained a lap to leapfrog Viviani but Gaviria’s lead was never in any danger.

The Colombian marked Viviani — who won three of the six disciplines but suffered from lower finishes in the other three — throughout the first half of the points race before turning his attentions to O’Shea once the Aussie moved up to second.

Reigning champion Thomas Boudat of France faded fast from the medal reckoning to finish eighth overall. 

Viviani’s position came under threat late on from Belgian Jasper De Buyst but the Italian held on to his medal by just three points. – Agence France-Presse

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