Europe’s cycling elite will descend on Apeldoorn this week for the European Track Cycling Championships. From 10 to 14 January there will be five days of competition for the white champion’s jersey with blue stripes and yellow stars in the last major championships before the Paris Olympic Games. CyclingFlits looks ahead!
History
Previous edition
Eleven months ago, the 2023 European Track Cycling Championships took place in Grenchen, Switzerland. Like this year, the program included 22 events, eleven events for both women and men. On the first day, the Dutch team immediately won three medals: Jeffrey Hoogland, Harrie Lavreysen and Roy van den Berg, together with newbie Tijmen van Loon’s favorite in the team sprint. Great Britain was defeated in the final.
The Dutch team lives up to its status as favorites in the team sprint – photo: Cor Vos
The Dutch women’s sprint teams also reached the podium; Kyra Lamberink, Steffie van der Peet and Hetty van de Wouw won the bronze medal in the team sprint, in which Germany won. In the end, Philip Heijnen took bronze in the elimination race behind Tim Torn Teutenberg and Rui Oliveira – and thus his first medal at a major championship. The Dutch team was also able to celebrate on the second day; World champion Jeffrey Hoogland set the fastest time in his specialty, the Kilometer. Furthermore, Maike van der Duin won bronze in the elimination race, while Lotte Kopecky in the rainbow jersey gave Belgium the only gold medal of the European Championship.
The men’s Olympic team pursuit was won by Italy, which included Filippo Ganna and Jonathan Milan. The women’s title went to Great Britain, which was able to count, among other things, on Blushing bull Katie Archibald. The third day once again gave success to the Netherlands; Roy Eefting only had to tolerate Oliver Wood ahead of him in the scratch. Lotte Kopecky also won Belgium’s second omnium medal; she behind Katie Archibald and Daria Pikulik she won bronze. Another Olympic event, the sprint, turned out to be a German meet. Lea Sophie Friedrich beat Pauline Grabosch for the title.
Lotte Kopecky extends her title in the elimination race – photo: Cor Vos
The omnium and sprint took place on the penultimate day for the men. Benjamin Thomas was the best of the omnium. World champion Harrie Lavreysen regained the European title in the sprint tournament, having skipped the event a year earlier; on the small 200 meter track in Munich the world and Olympic champion didn’t want to take any risks. Hetty van de Wouw also reached the podium on the penultimate day by setting the third fastest time in the 500m final. Shari Bossuyt secured the third and final medal for Belgium by taking silver in the points race.
On the last day there were only Olympic events on the program with the Keirin and both the men’s and women’s pairs competition. Harrie Lavreysen (gold) and Jeffrey Hoogland (bronze) provided the final medals for the Netherlands on the Keirin, their ninth and 10th. The Dutch team finished third in the medal table behind Germany and Great Britain. The women’s Keirin was won by Lea Sophie Friedrich. Roger Kluge and Theo Reinhardt gave Germany victory in the pairs competition, the British couple Katie Archibald – Elinor Barker won in the women’s competition.
Harrie Lavreysen returns home with three gold medals – photo: Cor Vos
Program and information
Plan The medals will be contested in eleven races: in the short races individual sprint, team sprint, Keirin and time trial, in the endurance races team pursuit, individual pursuit, scratch, points race, elimination race and pairs race, and in the omnium. Three to five finals are scheduled every evening.
Position Omnisport Apeldoorn – De Voorvoord 55, 7321 MA Apeldoorn
Public information Tickets are available from €17.50 via the organisation’s website.
Practical information Organization website UEC website Knights’ camp Plan
Sprint numbers
The Omnisport audience will have the opportunity to see the best of Dutch sprinting at home. Two-time Olympic champion and 13-time world champion Harrie Lavreysen In Jeffrey Hoogland, the only Olympic champion, nine-time world champion and holder of the world kilometer record (55.433 seconds) since October 31, will be present at the Keirin and sprint tournament. With Roy van den Berg In Tijmen van Loon they will also look to successfully defend their title in the team sprint.
Will there be another duel between Hoogland and Lavreysen over sprint numbers? – photo: Cor Vos
Hoogland wants to focus only on the Olympic events ahead of the Paris Games and therefore ignores his specialty, the kilometre. The 22 year old Van Loon is also moving in that discipline, just like Daan Kool, at 22 he is also part of the young generation in Dutch Sprintland. The Dutch sprint team has faced a lot of opposition from Australian sprinters in international tournaments recently, but in Apeldoorn they have to contend with other opponents from their own continent.
Let’s just assume that the English, with Jack Carlin and Joe Truman, want to take a step forward in view of the Paris Games. Carlin won bronze in the sprint tournament at the last World Championships in Glasgow. In addition to the English, it is also interesting to follow how the French are doing (third in the last World Cup team sprint). They send Sébastien Vigier in Apeldoorn, four-time European sprint champion. Rayan Helal also represents France in Omnisport; the former world junior champion won the national sprint title last week. In the Keirin he came second. Other medal contenders include Poland’s Mateusz Rudyk and Germany’s Maximilian Dörnbach.
As the Games get closer, the English traditionally get stronger… – photo: Cor Vos
Furthermore, Belgian sprinters are on the rise; the national association has registered three runners for the sprint components. The 19 year old Runar the writer he won the national sprint and Keirin titles in December. The 18-year-old Tjörven Mertens, who became vice-champion behind De Schrijver in both sprint races, can also prepare for the European Championships. Mathijs Verhoeven is the third name of the Belgian men’s sprint team. The 26-year-old rider comes from BMX racing.
The core of the Dutch women’s sprint team consists of Kyra Lamberink, Hetty van de Wouw In Steffie van der Peet. Last year they won the bronze medal in the team sprint at the European Championships in Grenchen. Van de Wouw also won bronze in the 500 metres. In Apeldoorn these women once again form the team for the team sprint. Van de Wouw and Van der Peet also focus on Keirin and sprint tournaments.
Lamberink will also compete in the 500 meters, just like the 21-year-old Kim Kalee. Last month, Kalee won national titles in the sprint and 500 meters, and took silver in the Keirin. Missing Shanne Braspenincx; the national association announced in a press release that Olympic champion Keirin is still recovering from an injury and is not yet fit enough to participate.
One year ago, the Dutch women’s sprints reached the podium – photo: Cor Vos
The face of the Belgian women’s sprint team is Nicky Degrendele. The 2018 Keirin world champion won two new national titles in sprint and Keirin in December. In addition to Deluge, Valerie Jenaer and Julie Nicolaes will also be able to prepare for the trip to Omnisport.
The main favorites for the titles are to be found in the surrounding countries. Germany sends its strong triumvirate Lea Sophie Friedrich, Emma Hinze In Paolina Grabosch in Apeldoorn. Friedrich, Grabosch and Hinze took the world title in the team sprint in Glasgow last summer. The French federation is counting on the qualities of Mathilde Gros and Marie-Divine Kouamé, who last week won national titles in the sprint, Keirin and 500 metres.
Nicky Deluge has been the leading figure in Belgian women’s sprinting for years – photo: Cor Vos
Gros had to miss the national competitions due to illness. But the French can also propose Marie-Louisa Drouode; This 18-year-old rider was Kouamé’s main challenger in the sprint events of the national championships. Great Britain looks forward to world sprint champions Emma Finucane, Sophie Capewell and Katy Marchant.
Duration numbers
Initially the European Track Cycling Championships were supposed to take place from 14 to 18 February, but in the end the date was brought forward by a month. As a result, the event entered the waters of Sixdays Bremen (January 12-15). At the request of the endurance cyclists, it was decided to move the men’s pairs race, which normally takes place on the closing Sunday, to Thursday 11 January, so that many of the participants can then travel to northern Germany.
Yoeri Havik and Jan-Willem van Schip participate in the pairs competition as world champions – photo: Cor Vos
Cyclists also belong to that group Yoeri Havik and Jan-Willem van Schip. The friendly couple once again have a great opportunity to show off their rainbow jerseys in front of their fans, having done so last month at the Wielerzesdaagse Rotterdam (formerly Wooning Zesdaagse) and the national championship. With the status of world champions, they now also have a chance to win a medal. Havik and Van Schip were already European champions in the pairs competition in 2021.
Also Philip Heijnen in the waste rate e Roy Eefting must be able to compete for medals in scratch cards; Heijnen won bronze in the elimination race a year ago and recently extended his national title in the points race, while Eefting already has two World Cup medals to his name in the scratch. Yanne Dorenbos could surprise in the points race; the 23-year-old rider made his debut last month at Six Days Rotterdam and then raced freely during the National Championships, where he won titles in the scratch and pairs race, alongside Elmar Abma.
Initially it was Vincent Hoppezak scheduled for the omnium, but in the week before the European Championships, the national champion in the elimination race suffered a fracture of a finger and a metacarpal in a fall during road training. This makes it uncertain whether he will be able to play at the European Championships. Further research and a test next weekend should clarify whether he will be able to compete in the points race on the final day. His place in the omnium is occupied by Yanne Dorenbos. The KNWU says there is “cause for optimism” and that the riders will swap sides for now.
Unlike a year ago, Brian Megens is not at the start of the individual pursuit; the cycling bartender, who with this song became national champion for the third time in December, received an offer to be part of the Dutch para-selection as pilot on the tandem, which he accepted. However, this means that you will not be able to participate in individual European or world championships.
Belgium goes to the European Championships with well-known names, including Robbe Ghys and Lindsay De Vylder – photo: Cor Vos
Belgium travels to Apeldoorn with many famous names. From Lindsay DeVylderwho in recent weeks has become national champion three times, Robbe Ghiswho together with De Vylder won the Six Days of Ghent and the Belgian Pairs Championship, national champion in the kilometer and in the elimination race Tuur Dens In Jules Hester (national champion in the scratch), national coaches Kenny De Ketele and Tim Carswell have several contenders for medals in the individual events and the pairs event.
The pursuit team will once again be able to compete with the best European teams. Milan Van den Haute can show off in the individual pursuit; the next promising player will only turn 19 in October, but he has already impressed during the six days in Ghent and Rotterdam, and at the national championships.
Benjamin Thomas (right) is the big star in the French European Championship selection – photo: Cor Vos
In the selection of French duration in Benjamin Thomas the big star, while names such as Thomas Boudat, Donavan Grondin, Oscar Nilsson-Julien and ValentinTablelion are also part of the team. Sebastian Mora in Albert Torres they are the most catchy names in Spain. Great Britain arrives in Apeldoorn with a strong team, except: And Bighamworld champion in elimination racing Ethan Vernon In Ethan Hayteralso including names such as Will Perrett, Mark Stewart and world scratch champion Will Tidball on board. Roger Kluge and Theo Reinhardt attract attention in Germany; the two will run the double race, but then travel, just like Yoeri Havik and Jan-Willem van Schip, to Sixdays Bremen.
The Italian team, which features Olympic champions in the team pursuit, is missing Filippo Ganna, world champion in the individual pursuit Simone Consonni, Francesco Lamon In Jonathan Milan be part of it. Milan is a contender for individual pursuit if they choose to manage it. Additionally, Olympic champions appear in the pairs competition, Lasse Norman Hansen and Michael Mørkøv, also starting on behalf of Denmark. The Danes are always among the contenders in the team pursuit. Portugal anxiously awaits the brothers Ivo to Rui Oliveiraand omnium world champion Yuri Leitao.
Maike van der Duin passed away after breaking her ankle during a training course – photo: Cor Vos
Maike van der Duin is the big absentee in the Dutch women’s endurance selection; She suffered a broken ankle during a training camp in the United States in December, which also forced her to miss the national championships. As a result, her eyes are primarily focused on Marit Raaijmakers, who is on the starting list for the omnium and the points race. According to national coach Nick Stöpler, the Raaijmakers can compete for medals in the points race and compete for a top 5 ranking in the omnium.
The only 19-year-old Babette van der Wolf takes part in the elimination race, while Lisa van Belle, also a talented 19-year-old, competes for the scratch. Van der Wolf or Van Belle will also appear alongside Raaijmakers at the start of the matching race.
In Belgium Lotte Kopecky the emblem of the reigning world champion on the road, in the points race and in the elimination race. A collection of young talents travels with Kopecky to Apeldoorn. The 20 year old Marith Vanhove he won national titles in the individual pursuit and elimination race last month. Katrijn De Clercq (21) is the current national champion in the pairs competition. Lani Wittevrongel (19) also won several medals during the last national championships.
Expectations are high for road and track world champion Lotte Kopecky – photo: Cor Vos
Febe Jooris (19) and Sara Maes (21) are the other names in the Belgian women’s endurance team. Shari Bossuyt, who won the silver medal in the points race last year, is not there; the 23-year-old cyclist is still inactive after it became known in June that she had tested positive for use of the metabolite letrozole.
Endurance runners need not fear Katie Archibald. The Briton, winner of two Olympic, five world and twenty European titles, wants to concentrate on the Nations Cup races ahead of the Paris Olympic Games and will skip the European Championship. But even without Archibald, the British have a strong team in Apeldoorn, with team pursuit world champions Josie Knight, Anna Morris and Megan Barker, and Elinor Barker and Neah Evans – the current world champions in the pairs race.
In the German selection we see, among other things, the names of Franziska Brauße, Mieke Kröger In Lisa Klein, all three Olympic champions in the team pursuit. In Italy we see, among others Elisa Balsamo, Chiara Consonni, Martina Fidanza and Vittoria Guazzini are on the starting list. France presents itself at the start with, among others, Victoire Berteau, Marion Borras, Clara Copponi and Valentine Fortin. Other interesting names are the Irish Iara Gillespie and the Norwegian Anita Stenberg.
TV
The European Track Cycling Championships can be followed directly through various channels. The European Championships can be watched live via Eurosport’s digital channels, as well as on television via Sporza/VRT and live streaming from NOS. For current broadcast times, visit our TV guide.
