Italians and Brits dominate the Junior Track World Championships

A final day full of class, surprises, and Race Your Dreams moments in Apeldoorn

After five days of exciting, top-level junior racing, it was Italy and Great Britain who emerged as the biggest winners of the 2025 UCI Junior Track World Championships in a packed Omnisport Apeldoorn.

On the final day, both countries added to their medal tallies, but they weren’t alone. Several nations seized their moment, proving once again that at this level, every second counts and every dream is worth chasing.

First gold for Austria thanks to Fugger

Sunday’s first medal event delivered a historic win for Heimo Fugger, who stormed to victory in the elimination race and gave Austria its first gold of the championships.
Matvei Iakovlev (Neutral) took silver, while Jacopo Vendramin (ITA) added another bronze for Italy.

Double gold for Great Britain

In the women’s madison, the British duo of Erin Boothman and Phoebe Taylor dominated by winning all but one sprint, leaving no doubt about their world champion status. Denmark finished second, and Australia took bronze.

Not long after, Henry Hobbs added a second gold to his name — and to Team GB’s count — by winning the 1km time trial with a powerful ride of 1:00.305, beating Germany’s Benjamin Bock. Alessio Magagnotti (ITA) claimed bronze.

Third gold for sprint queen Cenci

Just as Great Britain was closing in, Italy struck back — and again, it was Matilde Cenci leading the charge.

After winning gold in the team sprint and kilometre, she completed the hat-trick by dominating the keirin final and firmly earning the title of sprint queen of these World Championships.

Cenci held off a strong challenge from Valeria Hernandez Vergarda (COL), while Emilia Waterstradt (GER) secured the bronze.

With this victory, Italy reached six gold medals, edging out Great Britain, who finished the event with five. Host nation the Netherlands came painfully close twice but ended the week empty-handed.

Spain steals the finale

In the final event of the week — the men’s madison — both Italy (silver) and Great Britain (bronze) reached the podium once more. But it was Spain who took the top step, thanks to a brilliant performance by Eric Igual Ubeda and Enaut Urcaregui Sainz.

Lavreysen: “This is exactly why I put my name on this.”

It wasn’t just the riders who enjoyed the show. Olympic champion Harrie Lavreysen, proud ambassador and main partner of the event, reflected with joy:

“I wanted to put my name on this World Championships because I want to show people how great track cycling really is – and inspire the next generation to fall in love with it. I’ve taken photos with so many of these riders this week. I can’t wait to see which of them I’ll meet again at major events in a few years. It’s amazing to see them chasing their dreams.”