Matt Bostock wins scratch race world title after team pursuit bronze in Shanghai

Manx rider Matthew Bostock won the men’s scratch race at the UCI Track World Championships in Shanghai on Thursday (15 October), hours after taking bronze with Great Britain in the men’s team pursuit.

The 29-year-old from Glen Vine finished ahead of New Zealand’s Tom Sexton, who took silver, and Belgium’s Lindsay De Vylder in third, according to Manx Radio and Isle of Man Today.

Energy FM reported that Bostock attacked from the start of the race. His fourth place in the same event at this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow meant the other riders were watching him closely, and the favourites spent several laps marking one another.

Swiss rider Alex Vogel then attacked with 18 laps to go and built a lead of more than half a lap, Energy FM said. Bostock went after him five laps later. The chasing group hesitated, which let him open a big gap. He passed the tiring Vogel and rode alone for the rest of the race.

The main group, which included riders from the Netherlands and France, was slow to respond as his lead grew. By the time five laps remained, Bostock was close to catching the back of the bunch, Energy FM reported. De Vylder tried to bridge across late on but could not catch him.

Isle of Man Today said Bostock made several attacks during the race before lapping members of the peloton on his way to victory.

Earlier in the day, Bostock was part of the British squad that won bronze in the men’s team pursuit. Isle of Man Today said the team, which also included Noah Hobbs, Henry Hobbs, Ethan Vernon and Oliver Wood, qualified second.

Great Britain beat France by 3.106 seconds in the bronze medal ride-off, according to Energy FM, despite trailing for much of the 4km race. Energy FM reported that Bostock rode in the qualifying rounds but was replaced for the medal ride so he could prepare for the scratch race. He went back onto the track only minutes after collecting his bronze medal on the podium.

Manx Radio described it as a strong season on the track for Bostock. He won gold for the Isle of Man in the men’s 40km points race at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in August, and has also won several British national titles this season.

The championships continue until Sunday 18 October. Energy FM said earlier on Thursday that start lists for the remaining endurance events had not yet been submitted, so it was not yet clear whether Bostock would race again in Shanghai.