The German track cycling team has secured the next EM medals. In the elimination, Berlin’s Theo Reinhardt won silver, and a medal is already clear in the sprint.
The German track cycling aces stayed on Sunday (14.08.2022) on the European Championship success. In front of 1,700 spectators at the Munich exhibition center, Theo Reinhardt came second in the elimination race. Only world champion Elia Viviani (Italy) was better. Third was the Belgian Jules Hesters.
Reinhardt from Berlin, substitute driver for Roger Kluge, who was needed in the road race, was very good in the field of 18 participants right from the start. One athlete was eliminated every two rounds. When only two were left, Viviani started the final sprint at the right moment – and didn’t give Reinhardt a chance. So far, the 21-year-old Reinhardt has been world champion twice, in a two-man team drive with Roger Kluge.
Hinze and Friedrich sprint for podium places
The duo Emma Hinze and Lea Sophie Friedrich had previously reached the semi-finals in the sprint. In any case, the Federation of German Cyclists has secured another medal. In the 200-meter oval there were already five gold and two silver medals by Sunday. Hinze and Friedrich had won gold in the team sprint on Friday. Hinze also won the 500-meter time trial on Saturday.
Hinze and Friedrich undefeated in the quarterfinals
In the sprint quarterfinals, Hinze from Cottbus defeated British Sophie Caldwell 2-0 in the “Best of three” series, and she had to worry a little in the first run. Also after only two races, Friedrich made it through. The woman from Magdeburg distanced herself from the Ukrainian Alexandra Lochvinyuk and drove at an average speed of 66 km/h in the second race. Hinze reached 62 km/h.
Also in the semi-finals are Laurine van Riessen (Netherlands) and the 2021 European Championship bronze medalist, Mathilde Gros (France). Van Riessen fell badly at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. She hopes for compensation in Munich.
Points race: world champion can not be beat
World champion Lotte Kopecky prevailed in the points race over 25 km, that is 125 laps. The Belgian had already been ahead in the qualifying race on Saturday. Silver went to Silvia Zanardi (Italy) ahead of Victoire Berteau (France). Lena Charlotte Reißner from Gera was twelfth in the field of 18 starters.
Sprint: BDR duo in top ten
In the men’s sprint, France’s Sebastien Vigier beat Jack Carlin 2-1. The Briton suffered from a fall and was only able to win the first race. Vigier’s compatriot Rayan Helal was third. Maximilian Dörnbach (Cottbus) failed in the quarter-finals, Erfurt’s Marc Jurczyk in the round of 16.