Germany’s Friedrich sets world record in 200m flying lap

SAINT QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France : Germany’s Lea Friedrich set a world record in the 200 metres flying lap during qualification for the Olympic women’s cycling sprint race at the National Velodrome on Friday.
Another day of searing pace on the track saw Canadian Tokyo Olympic champion Kelsey Mitchell’s mark of 10.154, set five years ago at altitude in Bolivia, beaten several times.
New Zealand’s Ellesse Andrews, who won the keirin gold medal on Thursday, was the first to lower that with 10.108 before Friedrich took it down to 10.029.
Britain’s reigning world champion Emma Finucane, bidding for her third medal at the Games, also went lower than the old mark as she qualified second-quickest in 10.067.
The top 24 riders progressed to the first round heats later.
The Paris track has proved extremely quick with world records also going in the women’s and men’s team sprints won by Britain and the Netherlands respectively.
Australia also broke the men’s team pursuit world record en route to the gold medal.