The German sprinters had hardly put the balance of power back on their feet at the Cycling World Championships in Glasgow within just two days when they set their sights on the big goal in Paris 2024.
“After the World Cup, I’ll definitely take a two-week vacation. I need that before the Olympics to clear my head. After that, we’re aiming for the big Olympics,” announced Lea Sophie Friedrich after bronze in the 500-meter 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’s the same in one year.”
This time, the World Cup successes should not be carried along as ballast like in Tokyo 2021, when Hinze – who arrived as a three-time world champion – had to settle for silver in the team sprint in the end. This time the World Cup should generate the necessary tailwind.
The 25-year-old Hinze and Friedrich, who is even two years younger, seem to have matured. They had been impressed by the strong French women and the home crowd last year, but this time they showed nerves of steel. “Now we have annoyed the French,” said Friedrich.
The gold hunt is set to continue with the Keirin competition. “Keirin is one of my favorite disciplines. It suits me to be able to drive this long distance and against the opponents. I’m definitely aiming for the podium,” says defending champion Friedrich. The supreme discipline sprint follows at the end on Wednesday.
