Hetty van de Wouw has more than fulfilled her nickname ‘Hetty Raketty’. With a world record, the track cyclist from Kaatsheuvel won the first European title on the kilometer time trial on Saturday evening.
The 26-year-old Van der Wouw covered the kilometer in Heusden-Zolder with 1.04.497 more than a second faster than the number two, the Italian Martina Fidanza. The previous world record was 1,04,697, driven by Elesse Andrews.
It was the first time that the kilometer time trial was held at the European Championship. Previously the women drove the 500 meters, but at this tournament the distance was drawn up with the distance among the men.
‘Hetty Raketty’ knew after the qualification, earlier this Saturday, that she had a good chance of the world title. At that time, with 1.04,729, she was seven tenths faster than the German Clara Schneider and a second faster than Fidanza.
“You go on feeling”
In the evening she did everything in its power to sharpen her time again and to grab the world record. Van de Wouw started very quickly and held her pace of almost 56 kilometers per hour on average.
Van de Wouw had something to make good at the European Championships in Belgian Limburg. After a good start with gold on the team sprint, the individual sprint tournament ended on a deception. She was already eliminated in the quarterfinals.
On Sunday, Van de Wouw still drives the Keirin, then she can take care of her third gold medal, so ‘Hetty’s Hattrick’.
Also read: At World Cup, Hetty van de Wouw conquers silver from Keirin