Matthew Richardson will likely look back on 2026 as a year of missed opportunities after the under-investigation British Cycling star made a low-key return to action at the London 3 Day event on Friday.
Billed as the fastest cyclist on the planet after smashing the 200m flying lap world record last August, Richardson has missed out on competing at the Commonwealth Games and World Championships this year.
His absence from the first had been unfortunate, having suffered a broken shoulder in a keirin race in July. One that left him complaining months later that he had been yet to receive an apology from Japanese rival Gento Suzuki for causing the incident.
The second was also serious but for a different reason, with Richardson sent home by British Cycling on the eve of the World Championships after a formal complaint was made about his conduct.
Richardson, who switched to represent Britain from Australia in 2024, was reported by The Times to have made discriminatory remarks about people from minority backgrounds on a regular basis.
The complaint was reportedly sparked by him sending team-mates an offensive image referencing another GB rider.
Matthew Richardson, who is subject of an investigation into his conduct, made his return to competition at the London 3 Day event at the Lee Valley Velopark on Friday night
Richardson came out on top in his battle with Dutch star Harrie Lavreysen, left, who had won three gold medals at last month’s World Championships after the British sprinter was sent home
Among the allegations are that Richardson appeared to use the n-word in six messages, as well as making offensive references to the Asian community and homophobic comments.
Richardson’s appearance at the London 3 Day event was his first since the investigation began, with the 27-year-old vowing last month to ‘co-operate fully’ and ‘with contrition for the feelings of anyone who might be affected’.
The interest around Richardson’s return to action may have contributed to organisers informing Daily Mail Sport this week that they had reached capacity for media.
As a result, Daily Mail Sport opted to purchase a discounted ticket – reduced by 25 per cent from £72 to £55 – on Friday morning and take a seat in the velodrome’s less than half-full stands to watch the action unfold. Curiously seats in the media tribune opposite were sparsely attended.
Daily Mail Sport also approached organisers of the London 3 Day – an event not associated with British Cycling – about Richardson’s participation while the investigation remains ongoing.
The extent to which Richardson has missed out this year was highlighted by his showdown with Dutch rival ‘Harrie Lavreysen’, which had been billed by organisers as the ‘Race of the Year’.
Five-time Olympic gold medallist Lavreysen had been among the biggest winners from the World Championships in Richardson’s absence last month, coming away from Shanghai with gold medals in the sprint, keirin and team sprint events.
As it happened Lavreysen was the one admitting to being rusty after Richardson won the first of their battles on the night, clocking 9.624 to win the 200m flying lap. Still some way short of his world record time of 8.857 set last August.
Richardson, who switched from Australia to represent Britain in 2024, has been billed as the fastest man on the planet but has missed two major competitions this year
Richardson is one half of British Cycling’s golden couple alongside his girlfriend Emma Finucane
Richardson had been received with polite applause and cheers in his first competitive race in months and since he was placed under investigation. This was the Lee Valley Velopark not the nearby London Stadium after all.
The in-house announcer later declared that Richardson was ‘Doing his talking on the track’ after the 27-year-old came from a race down to beat the newly crowned world champion in a best-of-three sprint series.
The deciding win came after Richardson showed his track craft by diving down the track, catching Lavreysen by surprise and pulling clear for victory.
Richardson would go on to round off the evening by beating the Dutchman in a 500m time trial, making it 4-1 to the Brit on the night.
It was a reminder of Richardson’s clear talent and potential to claim the biggest honours in British colours. The 27-year-old has been billed as one part of the GB’s golden couple alongside his girlfriend Emma Finucane, who has three Olympic medals and a hat-trick of world titles to her name.
‘I felt really good out there to be back racing and putting the legs to good use,’ Richardson said during an on-track interview.
‘We are a close match up wherever we go and tonight was no different.’
Richardson will ultimately end this year with sprint and keirin European titles to his name, having beaten Lavreysen in both events back in February. But it was the Dutchman who cleaned up in his absence at the worlds.
Having been forced to watch from back home, the question as to whether Richardson can win major titles and perhaps add to his three Olympic medals at Los Angeles 2028 will likely now depend on how he emerges from the ongoing investigation.
