PARIS, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Harrie Lavreysen of the Netherlands will defend his Olympic title against Matthew Richardson of Australia in the final of the men's sprint cycling race after both won their best-of-three semifinal heats 2-0.

The reigning world and Olympic champion, who also set a new world record for 200 meters in qualifying, was simply too fast for Jack Carlin of Great Britain in his first heat, despite Carlin getting into a good position on his back wheel in the last lap.

Lavreysen topped 75 kilometers an hour in the last 200 meters to give Carlin no chance.

Knowing his rival's finishing speed, Carlin changed tactics in the second race, setting a much faster opening pace and looking to stay high on the boards. He was able to get a narrow lead, but Lavreysen was just too fast down the back straight and Carlin will race for bronze as he did in Tokyo.

Jeffrey Hoogland looked to surprise Richardson in the first heat, attacking with over a lap and a half of the three circuits of the track still to ride. He was able to open a decent lead, but Richardson ate that up on the back straight and took the first race in the closing meters.

The second heat, was much more cat-and-mouse as the riders tested each other's nerves at almost walking pace, before Hoogland opened up with around 400 meters left.

Once again though Richardson's pure speed saw him take the race to reach the final. Enditem

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