Matthew Glaetzer crowned track cycling’s new world champion

Matthew Glaetzer is track cycling’s new sprint king after storming to victory at the world championships.

Australia’s Matthew Glaetzer celebrates winning the men's sprint gold medal race at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Apeldoorn. Picture: AFP

Matthew Glaetzer is track cycling’s new sprint king after storming to victory at the world championships in The Netherlands as Australia’s mini-team continued to excel.

The 25-year-old South Australian eliminated defending world champion Denis Dmitriev of Russia and Frenchman Sebastien Vigier on his way to the gold medal clash.

Then Glaetzer crushed rising British star Jack Carlin 2-0 to take the honours.

“I have been wanting to pull that jersey on for so long, so to see the Australian flag raised above me was such a special moment,” said Glaetzer, who had earned five top-six finishes at the world championships since 2013, including the 2016 silver medal.

“I have finally backed up the speed, finally put the money where the legs are so to speak.” Carlin was so spent he admitted feeling ill feeling on the podium.

“I was very close to throwing up,” Carlin said.

“Throwing up during the Australian national anthem probably wouldn’t have gone down very well ahead of the (Gold Coast) Commonwealth Games.”

Glaetzer’s triumph meant all four members of Australia’s team had won medals at the world titles with one day of competition remaining.

Glaetzer paid tribute to former Australian cycling team head sprint coach Gary West who lost his battle with motor neurone disease in August last year.

“I can imagine how happy and emotional he would be right now,” Glaetzer said. “He put so much time and effort into me, he was so passionate about the sport and put so much of his life into his athletes and my thoughts go out to the West family today.

“He is a big part of this achievement today.”

AAP