'I was eyes closed throwing for the line': Danny Barber wins first elite national national title in keirin photo finish

Danny Barber has won his maiden elite national championship by the width of a tyre in the elite men's keirin at the 2025 AusCycling Track National Championships in Brisbane.

Barber chased down Leigh Hoffman on the final lap and pipped the new sprint national champion of Australia on the line in a photo finish.

The 21-year-old Dubbo product made the keirin final unfold how he wanted it to, with his first move coming from third wheel to the front of the line as the derny left the track to signal three laps to go.

Barber upped the pace and Hoffman responded with his own speed injection as they received two laps to go of Anna Meares Velodrome.

Hoffman's move was a race-winning one aimed at the holding his rapid pace all the way to the finish.

It looked to have worked when space opened up between him and Barber, but Barber held on to the tow and began clawing back the South Australian using every inch of the final lap.

"It's really good. It's been awhile between drinks coming from 19s into elites. I've put a lot of hard work in," Barber said.

"I didn't come into this week feeling the greatest but found some more thankfully and got the job done.

"It was a real hard battle with Leigh there, it was just on the line. I was eyes closed throwing for the line and had no idea if I got over him at the end but it was a good feeling when I saw my name on the scoreboard.

"Keirins are so hard to plan, I just remember drawing third and thinking I have a good position to control the race, get it the way that I want it.

"Obviously had Ryan (Elliott) and Tayte (Ryan) behind me, had Leigh in front, had big hitters everywhere. The New South Wales boys in there as well, one on my wheel and one in front, so watching out for them as well, but seeing those two (Hoffman and Elliott) behind me meant I was just watching.

"My main goal was to watch, I saw Tayte coming and then jumped to the front hoping someone else would jump in front of me but when I looked back everyone had slotted in behind me.

"Thankfully I squeezed the pace enough to convince Leigh to go and then I had just had to get into the drive there and get it on the line."

Elite men's keirin photo finish between Danny Barber and Leigh Hoffman.

Tayte Ryan finished as the bronze medallist.

Feature picture: Mackenzie Sweetnam