World Championships as an Olympic endurance test: Two years before the Games in Paris, the track cycling aces are fighting for World Championship medals on the Olympic track. The most important questions.
The German team will be going to the track cycling world championships in France from Wednesday (October 12th, 2022) with some gold ambitions Saint Quentin en Yvelines at the start. In particular, the two German top sprinters Emma Hinze and Lea Sophie Friedrich are in the spotlight. In 2020 and 2021, the two had divided all short-term titles among themselves. The most important questions before the World Cup.
How is the program?
From Wednesday to Sunday, a total of 22 world championship titles will be awarded for men and women. The decisions mostly take place in the evening program. The focus is particularly on the Olympic disciplines sprint, keirin, team sprint, team pursuit, and omnium madison.
Where is driving?
The World Championships will be held at the Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Velodrome on the outskirts of Paris. The Olympic track cycling competitions will also take place there in 2024. As usual, it will be driven on a 250 meter wooden oval. At the European Championships in Munich in August, the athletes still had to get used to a 200-meter track.
What are the German chances?
At the 2021 World Cup Roubaix the German team was the strongest nation with six gold, two silver and three bronze medals. Thanks to Hinze and Friedrich, a decent amount of precious metal can be expected in the women’s short-term category in the team sprint, sprint, keirin and 500-meter time trial disciplines. The men, on the other hand, missed the connection a bit in the sprint area. In endurance, hopes rest on the pursuit European champions Nicolas Heinrich and Mieke Kröger. Two-time Madison World Champions Roger Kluge and Theo Reinhardt are also back.
What about the women’s foursome?
Another triumph will be difficult. Lisa Brennauer ended her career after the European Championship. Lisa Klein, who ended her season after health problems, is missing. Accordingly, only Kröger and Franziska Brausse remain from the gold four.
What’s new in the German team?
At the beginning of the year, the Federation of German Cyclists filled the national coaching positions for men. The former sprint world champion Jan van Eijden, who celebrated many successes in Great Britain, has replaced Detlef Uibel in the short-term area and is making his world championship debut in the German team. The same applies to endurance for the previous junior coach Tim Zühlke, who succeeded Sven Meyer.
Who else to look out for at the World Cup?
The Italian Filippo Ganna travels to the World Cup as the hour record holder. The 26-year-old set a new record of 56.792 kilometers on the track in Grenchen on Saturday. In France there could be a duel with Heinrich in the one-man pursuit, and the Italian is also the locomotive of the track four.
What about the Russian and Belarusian athletes?
The two national teams are not allowed to participate in the world championships because of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. The world association followed the recommendations of the International Olympic Committee in the spring. Especially in the women’s sprint area, some stars like Darja Schmeljowa or Anastasija Woinowa are missing.