France pip Italy to madison world title

Cape Town - France pair Bryan Coquard and Morgan Kniesky raised the roof at the national velodrome in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines by winning Sunday's thrilling, if bemusing, madison race at the World Track Cycling Championships.

France beat Italian pair Liam Bertazzo and Elia Viviani by one point while Belgian duo Jasper de Buyst and Otto Vergaerde pipped the reigning champions David Muntaner and Albert Torres of Spain to bronze on finishing position.

In a 200-lap race with point-garnering sprints every 20 laps, Britain led for much of it having gained a lap.

But once that was taken back from them, a thrilling climax saw France snatch victory from Italy after a series of furious sprints.