Title fights in France
Next gold beckons: Hinze and Friedrich in the semifinals
Driving for more World Championship medals in France: Lea Sophie Friedrich (front) and Emma Hinze. photo
© Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
Will there be another big sprint final between Emma Hinze and Lea Friedrich? The two German top sprinters are in the semi-finals and have thus ensured another German medal.
Emma Hinze needed a show of strength, Lea Sophie Friedrich shone with impressive dominance: the German sprint aces continued the hunt for gold one day after their team triumph.
On an otherwise rather sobering day for the German track cycling team at the World Championships in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, the top German sprinters once again provided the highlights. Defending champion Hinze and Friedrich advanced to the sprint semi-finals, securing another German medal. Pauline Grabosch, on the other hand, was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Friedrich: “I’m really proud”
“I first had to find myself, deal with the pressure and stress. I wouldn’t have handled it so well in the past. I’m glad I managed it. That comes with experience,” said Hinze, and Friedrich added: “Me I’m really proud to set such a good time. I needed that for my head.” The gold ride on Wednesday actually stimulated her: “It gave me energy.”
On the other hand, the last chance for precious metal was shattered for the German women’s foursome, which had undergone major changes. Mieke Kröger and Co. narrowly missed the small final and went away empty-handed. There was also a disappointment for the former sprint world champion Stefan Bötticher, who was the last German to be eliminated in the Keirin quarterfinals.
But you can rely on the German sprinters for that. One day after gold in the team, the trio also presented themselves in strong condition in the individual sprint. Especially Friedrich convinced with the best time in the qualification and sovereign victories. Defending champion Hinze, on the other hand, had more trouble than expected, but still made it through. Grabosch missed a surprise, narrowly missing out on former speed skater Laurine van Riessen from the Netherlands. Before that, however, she had knocked out Tokyo Olympic champion Kelsey Mitchell from Canada.
Replay of 2021 final possible
This could mean a new edition of the 2021 World Cup final between Hinze and Friedrich on Friday. Hinze meets Mathilde Gros, the favorite of the French, in the semifinals. Friedrich has to deal with van Riessen. The German success streak in the short-term range seems to be continuing. At the last two world championships, Hinze and Friedrich had already won all the titles among themselves. There was another respectable success for the only 23-year-old Lea Lin Teutenberg with fourth place in the elimination round.
For the German foursome, on the other hand, there was nothing to gain at the World Cup. The two Tokyo Olympic champions Mieke Kröger and Franziska Brauße, together with the newcomers Lena Charlotte Reissner and Lea Lin Teutenberg, missed the entry into the small final with the sixth best time. After the end of Lisa Brennauer’s career and the absence of health from Lisa Klein and Laura Sweet Milk, the expectations were already low. “We lost a driver in both runs. We had to react. We did quite well for that,” said Kröger, who is hoping for gold in the individual pursuit: “My strongest competitor is probably my roommate Franzi Brausse.”
The men’s four had already clearly missed entering the finals on Wednesday with seventh place. Great Britain won the title in the final against Italy. Hour world record holder Filippo Ganna missed his first gold chance on the Olympic track in Paris 2024.