No sooner had the German sprinters redressed the balance of power at the 2023 World Cycling Championships in Glasgow in just two days than they set their sights on the big goal in Paris 2024.
Olympics as a major goal
"After the World Championships, I'll definitely take a two-week holiday. I also need that before the Olympics to clear my head. After that, we'll aim for the big goal of the Olympics," announced Lea Sophie Friedrich after winning bronze in the 500 metre time trial, and double world champion Emma Hinze added: "If it goes the same way next year, it would be great. You can definitely take a lot with you, because it will be the same in a year's time."
This time, the World Championship successes should not be dragged along as ballast like in Tokyo 2021, when Hinze - who travelled as a triple world champion - had to settle for silver in the team sprint in the end. This time, the World Championships should provide the necessary tailwind.
World Cycling Championships 2023 Glasgow: German riders with strong nerves
The 25-year-old Hinze and Friedrich, who is two years younger, appear to have matured. While they were impressed by the strong French women and the home crowd last year, they showed nerves of steel this time. "Now we've annoyed the French," said Friedrich.
The keirin competition will continue the hunt for gold at the 2023 World Cycling Championships in Glasgow. "Keirin is one of my favourite disciplines. It suits me to be able to ride this long distance and against my opponents. I'm definitely aiming for the podium," says defending champion Friedrich. The final event on Wednesday will be the supreme discipline of the sprint.
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