She had fallen ill after the European Track Cycling Championships in Grenchen and had spent a week exclusively in bed. Before the final day in northern France, it can now be stated: The strength was enough, the sprinting ability required in the sprint was quickly restored and the 21-year-old won the medals almost effortlessly.
Three medals already
Gold in the team sprint, silver in the sprint and gold in the 500 metre time trial: Friedrich has already exceeded her target before the final keirin on Sunday (from 2.30 pm/Eurosport) and completed an extreme workload in the Vélodrome. "I actually didn't want to ride the 500 metres. You're not really allowed to say that. I couldn't be cancelled. So I said: screw it, Lea, I'll just defend my title," said Friedrich - still totally shaken up - after her gold medal.
All the anger at the Olympics, when Friedrich and Emma Hinze looked dismayed after their joint team sprint silver, seems to have evaporated at the World Championships. "This is unbelievable. I lay flat for a week, didn't do anything and just fought with myself. It's madness," said Friedrich.
She was still suffering from a cold and cough and was also a bit under the weather during the competition. "But I still feel fit." Pauline Grabosch, who only just missed out on a medal in fourth place, did not seem so happy. Grabosch wiped a tear from her eye after repeatedly narrowly missing out on an individual medal. One consolation remains for her: team sprint gold with Hinze and Friedrich. She is going home with a rainbow jersey. "What more could you want?" asked Grabosch.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:211023-99-710847/4
