The German team sprinters got off to a golden start at the European Track Cycling Championships in Konya, Turkey. The trio of Pauline Grabosch, Lea Sophie Friedrich and Clara Schneider narrowly beat defending champions Great Britain in the final, with only three thousandths making the difference. Tim Torn Teutenberg also took silver in the elimination race, Lena Charlotte Reißner bronze in the scratch.
Grabosch and Friedrich, who have already won silver (2021) and bronze (2024) at the Olympic Games with Emma Hinze, as well as young driver Schneider qualified for the final with the second best time behind the British women who did not compete in the best line-up. The Germans were behind until the last lap, but final driver Grabosch managed to catch up successfully.
“What Pauline did in third place was on a different level – it was world class. The three of them worked together really well and that was what made the win. The gold medal is certainly a boost for the coming days,” said national coach Jan van Eijden.
Teutenberg, who drives on the road for the German team Lidl-Trek, missed the successful defense of his title. The 23-year-old had to admit defeat to Tobias Aagaard Hansen from Denmark. In addition to 2025, Teutenberg also won European Championship gold in the elimination race in 2023. Reißner had to give way to the Belgian Helene Hesters and the Swiss Aline Seitz. In the men’s team sprint, Maximilian Dörnbach, Nik Schröter and Luca Spiegel finished fifth.
The women’s foursome with Franziska Brauße, Lisa Klein, Laura Süßemilch and Mieke Kröger is on course for a medal and achieved the best time in qualification. The men’s foursome came in fifth place. Monday is about precious metals.
