Tokyo 2020 Olympics: Matt Walls wins gold for Team GB in omnium cycling

Matt Walls showed his strength to win the multiple race event

Great Britain's Matt Walls has won a gold medal in the men's omnium cycling at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

The 23-year-old rode smartly throughout the four-discipline event to win with a comfortable final margin of 24 points from Campbell Stewart of New Zealand.

Walls, who won the opening scratch race, went into the deciding points race with a narrow advantage of just six points.

However, he gained a lap on the field early on to take control and was then able to mark his rivals for the remainder of the 100-lap event.

"I came into the points race with a bit of a lead and that was nice to have a bit of breathing room," said the 23-year-old from Oldham. "I got a gap and committed to it, it worked out I got the lap (and 20 points) and the legs were sore after that.

"Coming in here, everything was a bit of an unknown. The last track race I did was the European Championships last year, which is a long way away.

"I came in knowing I was in good shape. I didn't know how it would translate to the track or my tactics from the track, it's been a long time since I have raced.

"I came into the scratch race feeling good and won it. I thought then, 'I have a chance now as long as I play it smart.' I knew I had the legs and it worked out."

Walls' gold medal marks the first time Team GB have won the men's omnium at the Olympic Games, with Ed Clancy winning bronze at London 2012 and Mark Cavendish silver at Rio 2016.

Plenty of success has also been enjoyed in the women's omnium, with Laura Kenny winning both Olympic titles since the event was introduced to the Games nine years ago.

Walls added: "Before I got on the track, I was a mountain biker with my dad, just having fun. When I was at primary school, I was doing a lot of different sports, did a bit of triathlon and enjoyed the cycling bit.

"Someone said about going down to the velodrome, which was close for me because of where I live. I went there, tried it and loved it.

"I did more and more as I grew up, got into racing and tried all sorts. I did cross, did mountain biking, track and road.

"I got onto the British Cycling programme when I was 15, and went on to get a pro road contract which put me in good shape for here."

The omnium has changed format for these Games, with four events now squeezed into one testing period of racing.

Walls, the European champion who tested positive for COVID-19 in March, jointly led alongside Jan Willem Van Schip and Benjamin Thomas after the tempo race.

He then outlasted the pair in the elimination race to create a slender advantage moving into the decider.

During the final points race, Walls wasted little time in taking control as he gained a lap alongside American Gavin Hoover, to win the second of the 10 sprints.

That gave him a cushion of 30 points over the field, and from then on, he was tactically astute to keep at bay reigning champion Elia Viviani, Thomas and Stewart until the finish.

Walls' gold medal brings about Team GB's 50th medal at this Olympic Games in Tokyo and is the team's first gold from action inside the velodrome.

It also continues a rich history for Great Britain in the omnium event, after Ed Clancy won bronze in 2012 and Mark Cavendish silver in 2016.