Richardson takes out track cycling series

Australian Matthew Richardson has won the men's sprint series in track cycling's champions league with a last-gasp victory over Dutch ace Harrie Lavreysen.

An astonishing late burst of speed from Matthew Richardson has rocketed the Australian to a massive win in cycling's track champions league.

The Australian somehow beat Dutch rival Harrie Lavreysen on the line to win the keirin final in the fifth and final round at London's Olympic velodrome.

That also gave Richardson the overall series win in the men's sprint competition, beating Lavreysen by just two points.

Richardson's toe-to-toe duel with Lavreysen throughout the champions league has confirmed he is Australia's new track sprinting star, two years out from the Paris Olympics.

Lavreysen, the two-time Olympic gold medallist and 11-time world champion, is the top rider in the powerful Dutch men's track sprint squad.

But after competing at last year's Tokyo Olympics, Richardson won two gold medals at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and was part of the Australian trio that sensationally took out the team sprint in October at the world championships.

Richardson has stepped up again in the track league to reinforce that he is a new power in the sport.

After beating Richardson to win the sprint final on Saturday night (AEDT), Lavreyesen looked like he had the Australian covered in the keirin decider.

But Richardson unleashed a withering final kick and overtook the Dutchman on the line, pumping his fists in jubilation when he realised he had secured the last-gasp win.

"It feels surreal to have won ... I knew it was going to be close between Harrie and I coming into the end, but it couldn't have come any closer than that," Richardson said.

"The whole series has been an intense four weekends, so it's a relief that I can put my feet up now.

"This win is super important and it means a lot to me."

Also in London, Richardson had taken the series lead in round four on Friday night (AEDT) when he won the keirin final and Lavreysen could only manage fourth.

But the Dutch superstar battled back to beat Richardson in the sprint, ensuring they would stay neck-and-neck for the last round.

Other Australians competing in the series included Michaela Drummond, who finished sixth overall in the women's endurance events, while Chloe Moran was 11th.

Thomas Cornish was 15th in the sprint.

Swiss Claudio Imhof won the men's endurance category, while French rider Mathilde Gro took out the women's sprint series and American Olympic champion Jennifer Valente bested British ace Katie Archibald overall in the women's endurance.