Ethan Hayter defends Men's Omnium world title as Benjamin Thomas takes silver in frantic finish

Ethan Hayter has defended his Men's Omnium UCI Track World Championship title after a dominant victory at the Vélodrome National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France.

The reigning and defending champion Ethan Hayter went into the all deciding points race with a narrow lead over his main rivals, the likes of Elia Viviani, Benjamin Thomas and Aaron Gate knew it was all to play for it they could score a high amount of points.

With 36 laps to go, Thomas and Viviani made their first big effort to try and gain a lap and earn a 20 point bonus however they were soon brought back by an alert pack. Similar moves by Belgium's Jules Hesters and Canada's newly crowned Scratch Race world champion Dylan Bibic met similar fates. Hesters tried again accompanied most notably by Niklas Larsen of Denmark and they were successful with the Dane rising into medal contention.

In an incredible finish, a breakaway of Thomas and Hayter rode off the front with 7 laps remaining, the Frenchman making what looked to be a forlorn effort to gain a lap and claim a medal. In an incredible show of strength the duo came round the final bend and just before crossing the line joined back up with the main pack, adding 20 points to their scores, ensuring Hayter victory and Thomas a simply brilliant silver, demoting New Zealand's Aaron Gate to bronze in the process.