Australia's track cycling endurance stars have capped their world championships preparations at the inaugural Melbourne Six Day event.
Victorian pair Leigh Howard and Kelland O'Brien won the men's category on the very last sprint of the event at Melbourne Arena when they took out the one-hour madison on Saturday.
They beat compatriots Sam Welsford and Cameron Scott by two points, 254 to 252 after Welsford and Scott had led throughout the three nights of racing.
The Six Day was the last racing for the four Australians ahead of the world championships later this month in Poland.
Howard, O'Brien and Welsford were in the Australian combination that broke the team pursuit world record at last year's Commonwealth Games.
Scott, Alex Porter and Cameron Meyer will also ride for Australia in the men's endurance events later this month at the world titles.
Welsford was caught at the back of a fall late in the madison on Saturday night, but only suffered minor injuries and they are not expected to hinder his world titles preparation.
The women's event was much more straightforward, with Australian star Annette Edmondson dominating.
Edmondson and Manly will also ride in track endurance events at the world championships.
Like the men, their priority will be the team pursuit.
Edmondson also has her hand up for the multi-discipline omnium event and Manly could ride in the madison.
Compatriots Amy Cure, Macey Stewart and Ankudinoff also raced at the Melbourne Six Day ahead of the world championships
The Six Day series is seven international track events, where the focus is as much on entertainment as racing, with the final in Brisbane this April.
