In the scratch event the riders ride forty laps (10 km) after which they sprint for the win. Last year, Wiebes immediately won gold in Ballerup, Denmark, on her debut at a World Championship. In Santiago she kept the Danish Amalie Dideriksen and the New Zealand Prudence Fowler behind her.
Wiebes became world champion in gravel riding a week and a half ago and has won no fewer than 25 road races this year. She has a full schedule in the Chilean capital. In addition to the scratch, she also competes in the omnium and, together with Lisa van Belle, in the pairs race. The latter components are also held at the Olympic Games.
Wiebes had a plan, but saw it almost go wrong, just like earlier this year at the European Championships. A rider had escaped. “It almost looked like that European Championship in Zolder where I missed the European title. Fortunately, Anita Stenberg was in pursuit,” she told NOS. “It was only when I came out of the last bend that I thought: this will work. But it had to come from far away.”
Team sprinters and team sprinters to the track cycling World Championships final: Dutch men against rival Matthew Richardson
The Dutch team sprinters have reached the final at the Track Cycling World Championships in Chile. Roy van den Berg, Harrie Lavreysen and Jeffrey Hoogland were much better than their Italian opponents and recorded the best time of the winners of the four heats: 41.634.
Jeffrey Hoogland, Harrie Lavreysen and Roy van den Berg (archive photo). © ANP/HH
The opponent in the final is Great Britain, for which, among others, Matthew Richardson, who previously rode for Australia, competes. They also improved compared to the qualifications and reached 41.850.
The Netherlands is the defending champion and reigning Olympic champion in the event in which of the three riders who start, one is sent off the track after each round. The third rider rides the last lap alone and determines the finishing time.
The Netherlands will also compete for gold among the women. Kim Kalee, Hetty van de Wouw and Steffie van der Peet were much too fast for the Mexican women in 45.709. It was also the best time. The opponent in the final is defending champion Great Britain, which scored 45,864. The Netherlands took silver last year.