Apeldoorn (Netherlands) (AFP)
Frenchman Benjamin Thomas has been crowned European Olympic champion in the Olympic Games on Friday at the European Track Championships in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.
At the end of the four events, the Frenchman, with a total of 173 points, is ahead of Danish Lasse Norman Hansen (162 pts) and Briton Oliver Wood (149).
Thomas, the 2017 Hong Kong world champion, will be a big favorite for gold at the Tokyo Olympics.
This is the second French medal won in the Netherlands in one of the Olympic disciplines, after the bronze for team speed Wednesday.
Chance of French medal in the women's omnium event, Clara Copponi, finished in 7th place.
In women's individual speed, the last French Mathilde Gros was eliminated by the Ukrainian Olena Starikova in the quarterfinals. And in men's individual speed, the last Frenchman, Rayan Helal, was also eliminated in the quarterfinals by the Dutchman Jeffrey Hoogland.
The European Championships ends Sunday. Medals must still be awarded in two Olympic disciplines: the sprint keirin and the American endurance.
Men's Omnium:
1. Benjamin Thomas (FRA) 173 pts
2. Lasse Norman Hansen (DEN) 162
3. Oliver Wood (GRB) 149
Women's Open:
1. Kirsten Wild (NED) 116 pts
2. Laura Kenny (GBR) 114
3. Tatsiana Sharakova (BLR) 112
...
7. Clara Copponi (FRA) 97
© 2019 AFP