Hoffman and McCaig Dominate National Championships, Claiming Keirin and Sprint Doubles
Leigh Hoffman’s triumphant roar echoed around the velodrome as he crossed the finish line, a dominant display of power securing him his maiden national keirin title. This victory marked a significant milestone in his burgeoning career, allowing him to complete a rare and coveted double of both the keirin and individual sprint titles at the Australian National Championships. For the first time, Hoffman, now firmly established as Australia’s leading track sprinter, has achieved this remarkable feat.
Not to be outdone, Alessia McCaig also showcased her exceptional talent by clinching both the individual sprint and the keirin on Saturday. This marks her third consecutive year achieving this double, extending an impressive four-year streak of dominance in the keirin discipline.
“I’m stoked, four in a row is crazy,” McCaig exclaimed, still buzzing from a thrilling blanket finish in the six-lap, derny-paced keirin race. “I decided to give it a bit of a crack as it was the last race of the week and leave it all out there. I broke a PB and didn’t lose a race all week, so I’d say that is a 10 out of 10 week for me.”
Hoffman Steps Up as Australia’s Sprint Leader
At 25 years old, Hoffman acknowledged that while McCaig’s consistency is formidable, he has truly come into his own as the linchpin of Australia’s sprinting program. This ascendancy follows the retirement of Matt Glaetzer and the departure of Matt Richardson to Great Britain. The Whyalla-born rider had previously excelled primarily in the team sprint, serving as a blistering lead-out man for his now-absent teammates. With Richardson now representing Britain, Hoffman has seized the opportunity to lead the charge in individual events.
His individual prowess was already evident with a silver medal in the keirin and a bronze in the individual sprint at last year’s World Championships in Santiago. These medals were his first individual podiums at the world level, igniting a hunger for further success.
Earlier in the week, Hoffman secured his second national sprint title, setting a new Australian record for the fastest flying 200m with a blistering 9.321 seconds. He quipped that it was “good to rub Richo’s [Richardson’s] record out.” Armed with that national champions jersey and the sprint title, Hoffman then proved his overwhelming power in the notoriously chaotic keirin, a race where anything can happen.
“It’s been a good week,” Hoffman told ABC Sport. “I’ve still got a bit of a wrist injury that’s still persisting a bit, so we’re trying to give it as much rest as possible, so no team sprint for me [on Sunday]. It will be the same at the Hong Kong World Cup in two weeks. That’ll be the last international before Commonwealth Games, so same there, sprinting keirin again for me, big focus on the individual, and then hopefully by Commonwealth Games the wrist should be fully healed and can rip into the team sprint.”
The Allure of the Keirin vs. the Individual Sprint
While elite sprinters like Hoffman place greater emphasis on the individual sprint – a captivating head-to-head battle reminiscent of Anna Meares’s famous duels with Victoria Pendleton – the keirin holds a special place in the hearts of fans.
“For myself it’s individual sprint [that’s the key race],” Hoffman explained when asked about the most significant event for sprinters. “It’s the fastest man on the track, give or take. There’s less externals that go into it. Keirin racing, anyone can win it. It’s a horse race on bikes, basically, you know?”
The keirin’s inherent unpredictability and thrilling nature were instrumental in its inclusion in the Olympic Games for the first time at the Sydney 2000 Games.
Keirin’s Japanese Roots and International Revival
Japan is widely regarded as the spiritual home of the keirin, with the sport first emerging in Kokura in 1948 as a fundraising initiative to aid post-war reconstruction. It remains one of the few sports officially permitted for betting in Japan, offering significant financial rewards to its professional riders. However, the Japanese professional keirin circuit operates under a format distinct from international competitions.
“It’s different racing,” Hoffman elaborated. “Steel bikes, outdoors, 333-metres tracks, where this is 250 metres. So, yeah, totally different type of racing.”
Despite these differences, the Japan Keirin Autorace Foundation (JKA) has a history of inviting elite UCI racers to participate in their closed professional circuit for select events. Former Australian track star Shane Perkins has been a vocal advocate for racing in Japan, having competed there for over a decade to supplement his UCI career. Matt Glaetzer also experienced a career highlight racing in the Japanese keirin in Izu for nine months.
For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, the JKA has reopened invitations to international riders. This includes a formidable lineup of talent such as four-time keirin world champion and reigning Olympic champion Harrie Lavreysen, the man he narrowly beat to gold in Paris, Matthew Richardson, and fellow Brit Joe Truman. New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews and Dutch rider Hetty van de Wouw, who won Olympic silver and gold respectively in the keirin at Paris, have also been invited, alongside French two-time European champion Mathilde Gros.
These riders are set to compete in June, with many already in Japan familiarising themselves with the unique steel-framed bikes. The inclusion of these international stars is a strategic move by the JKA to revitalise the sport’s declining popularity and address its association with an aging demographic of fans and gambling.
While Hoffman and McCaig were not among this year’s invitees, Hoffman expressed his keen interest in participating in the future. “I was definitely keen on it,” he stated. “After worlds this year, I was hoping I’d get a call-up, but I think they’ve only selected three [male riders]. I’d definitely be open to it. It’s a pretty big experience and a bit of money in it as well, which is definitely a plus.”
The Perils of Professional Keirin
The Japanese version of keirin racing is not without its risks. In Justin McCurry’s book “War on Wheels,” Shane Perkins famously described it as “boxing on wheels,” highlighting the combative nature of the professional races, where riders are even provided with body armour.
While the elite keirin races at the national championships thankfully passed without incident, the track did witness its share of crashes on Saturday night. Several riders in the under-17 scratch races sustained injuries, leading to a busy scene in the infield medical area at the Anna Meares Velodrome, with riders forming queues for treatment.
In the elite scratch races, a fiercely contested and tactical event saw Queensland’s Noah Blannin stake a strong claim for a Commonwealth Games spot with an impressive victory. Meanwhile, South Australia dominated the women’s race, securing a podium sweep through a tactical masterclass. New Zealand rider Rylee McMullen claimed the win, ahead of her teammates Maeve Plouffe and Sophie Edwards.
