Just one day after making history, British cyclist Matt Richardson has broken his own world record in the men’s 200m flying start, solidifying his position as the fastest man on two wheels. Richardson, 26, clocked an astonishing time of 8.857 seconds, shaving a significant fraction off the 8.941-second record he set just a day prior.
The two record-breaking rides took place at the velodrome in Konya, Turkey. On Thursday, Richardson became the first cyclist ever to go under the nine-second barrier in the discipline, eclipsing the previous benchmark of 9.088 seconds held by Dutch sprinter Harrie Lavreysen.
“There was more time on the table after yesterday’s out of sprint lane ride,” said Richardson after his latest run. “I knew if I came in with good execution and rode as close to the black as possible I’d go quicker, and that’s what happened.”
The flying 200m is not a championship medal event but is used to seed riders for the match sprint. Richardson’s back-to-back records highlight his exceptional form and technical precision. The sprinter, who was born in Kent but moved to Western Australia at the age of nine, maintained dual citizenship before switching his nationality back to Britain in August 2024, after a successful run representing Australia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games where he won three medals.
His historic achievement in Konya serves as a major statement on the international stage and a testament to his relentless pursuit of speed.
