Great gesture: Kröger & Brauße present Team Nigeria with time trial handlebars

"Franzi and I thought it was so cool in Roubaix (2021 World Championships) that the Nigerians were there. Then we saw them again in Glasgow. They rode the team pursuit with the points bikes. Then we thought: 'That can't happen. We'll get them some time trial handlebars. No sooner said than done. It took a while, but now we've given them the handlebars," said Kröger.

Nigerian women more than half a minute slower than German team at track cycling world championships

The Africans can make good use of the material. On the Olympic track, they were more than a minute slower than the Germans in qualifying, which is half an eternity in track cycling. "Maybe we'll go out on the track together on Sunday and give them a few tips. We think it's really brave of them to be represented here," added Kröger.

• Track Cycling World Championships 2022: Schedule & TV coverage

Before then, however, the Bielefeld native must concentrate on her next race. The European champion wants to win gold in the single pursuit - possibly in a final duel with her friend Brauße: "My strongest rival is probably my roommate Franzi."

Kröger with a mammoth programme

Saturday's race also marks the end of a mammoth programme for Kröger after her starts at the European Championships in Munich in August, at the Road World Championships in Australia in September and now at the next highlight in Paris.

And yet Kröger still hasn't had enough: "I've decided to cycle back to Cologne. There's still something left in the tank. I don't know if I can manage it. Maybe I'll even get on the train."

Copyright 2022, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved