Nicholas Paul ousted in keirin quarters, says time to wind down, reset

Nicholas Paul brought an early end to his second Olympic campaign after failing to advance past the men’s keirin quarter-final at the National Velodrome in Paris on August 11.

Riding in heat two of three, and requiring a top-four finish among the six cyclists in each heat, Paul placed an agonising fifth and was eliminated. Winning the heat was new flying 200m world record holder Harrie Lavreysen of Netherlands.

Also moving on from this heat were England’s Hamish Turnbull, Colombian Cristian Ortega Fontalvo and Japanese Shinji Nakano.

In the first round, Paul advanced to the quarter-finals after winning heat five of five on August 10. Only the top two advanced from each heat, with Polish rider Mateusz Rudyk joining Paul.

Lavreysen went on to win keirin gold in fine style and end his Olympic campaign with three gold medals courtesy previous victories in the men’s sprint and team sprint events.

In a post race interview, Paul said it was “not the outcome that I wanted but you live, you learn and come back again”.

When asked if the six-man race worked against him, Paul disagreed and said he had to race whatever was put in front of him.

“You draw where you draw and you have to work from that position. It didn’t played out how I wanted it to and I just had to work with it. I was just trying to get to the front. But the pace was that high that any little moves it was hard to pass on this track. On the last lap was really hard, I was trying, but couldn’t.”

Paul said he will return to TT to rest after a hectic Olympic campaign. He also has his eyes set on the World Track Cycling Championships in October and even the Summer Games in Los Angeles in 2028.

“My focus will be set on the LA Games now (2028). I didn’t like the outcome of this one so I think I have to work much harder to get myself in a better space physically and mentally.

“After this Olympics, I’m going to back off a bit, rest and then go into Worlds. The build was until Paris and was a bit stressful. So I have to ease off and go into Worlds, return home, reset and go again.”

Compatriot Kwesi Browne was not so lucky as he finished third in heat four, and was forced to contest the repechage (final chance of qualifying).

However, in this race, Browne was involved in a terrible crash on the final lap, that threw him off his bike and onto the track. It occurred when the four contestants were all pushing hard for victory, in close proximity of each other.

The event was temporarily suspended while medics treated Browne. He was then stretchered out of the arena.

TT Cycling Federation president Rowena Williams confirmed on August 10 that Browne was “fine” and he was “walking and talking.”

The Paris games came to an end on August 11.