"Every country down there has a national coach for tactics, but not us. That's not a criticism of Detlef Uibel," Vogel told the German Press Agency after world champion Emma Hinze and Lea Sophie Friedrich failed in the keirin on Thursday morning. National coach Uibel, who is also responsible for the men's sprinters, could not do it all alone. "You need a co-coach. Someone who is there to do the tactics."
It was a bad tactic right from the start. "That's a shame, the legs are there. I hope they can shake it off," emphasised Vogel. The 30-year-old won gold in the sprint in Rio in 2016. Vogel has been paraplegic since her tragic training accident in 2018. She will be commentating for ZDF at the Olympics.
However, 23-year-old Hinze and Friedrich, who is two years younger, are "still incredibly young and need support". That is normal. "At some point you grow up enough and have to be able to do it on your own. I was also able to do it on my own at some point, that you analysed the video yourself. The Olympics are for adults," added Vogel.
The 30-year-old sees it as normal that Hinze complained that her rivals were racing against her. "Welcome to the club of world champions. It was the same the last four years when I raced." Vogel, who trains Friedrich with the German Federal Police, is happy to offer Hinze support, but also knows: "It's difficult for a former world champion and a new world champion to find a relationship without it being somehow lecturing or patronising. I'm gradually developing a relationship with Emma too."
© dpa-infocom, dpa:210806-99-739262/2
