World champion Matthew Glaetzer shines in the rainbow jersey in Paris

WORLD champion Matthew Glaetzer led the way in his new rainbow jersey as Australia’s track cycling team topped the medal tally at the season opening world cup in Paris this week.

Matthew Glaetzer after winning sprint gold at the UCI track world cup in Paris on the weekend. Picture: Bryn Lennon (Getty).

WORLD champion Matthew Glaetzer led the way in his new rainbow jersey as Australia’s track cycling team topped the medal tally at the season-opening world cup in Paris this week.

Glaetzer won the sprint which was one of three gold medals the Aussies claimed along with the women’s team pursuit and Ashlee Ankudinoff in the scratch race.

Glaetzer all smiles on the podium in Paris. Picture: Bryn Lennon (Getty)

More impressive were his times when he qualified with 9.502secs which was just .05 outside his PB which was altitude assisted in 2013.

His world cup win followed sprint gold at the Oceania Championships in Adelaide in October — all in the rainbow jersey which he claimed in The Netherlands in March.

“It has been a great start to the season,” the 26-year-old said.

“The Paris track is really fast with its higher and long bends so I was aiming for a 9.4 (in qualifying) and just missed it, but to do a (sea level) PB after a quick freshen up after Japan, it’s encouraging signs.

“Through the rounds I felt good and was racing well. The semi-final onwards was intense though, I don’t think I had beaten (Jeffrey) Hoogland before so that was a good fight to make the gold ride.

“I went to three rides again in the final which always tests you and your opponent to see how much is left in the tank. I backed up stronger in the third ride and took the gold.”

An “exhausted” Glaetzer said he would spend this week recovering to prepare for the next world cup in Milton, Canada, starting this weekend.

Glaetzer’s sprint teammate Stephanie Morton also produced a big ride at the world cup, setting a PB in sprint qualifying and claiming a silver medal to go with her silver alongside Kaarle McCulloch in the team sprint by just 0.001 of a second.

“After a huge week at Oceanias then a long haul flight and three rounds of the team sprint, to come out and ride a 10.5 (in sprint qualifying) was awesome,” Morton said.

“I knew it would be a tough fight to make the finals but I took it one race at a time and was stoked to walk away with the silver.”

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Originally published as World champion Matthew Glaetzer shines in the rainbow jersey in Paris