Is the World Championship record shaky?: Friedrich and Hinze on the hunt for gold

According to Kristina Vogel, it could be raining medals at the World Track Cycling Championships. When the first Super Cycling World Championships get underway in Glasgow on Thursday with 13 title events, Germany's world-class sprinters are expected to ensure a golden start at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

World Cycling Championships 2023: No historical comparisons

And seven-time title winner Lea Sophie Friedrich and six-time world champion Emma Hinze could gradually shake Vogel's track cycling record. Vogel had won eleven world titles before a serious training crash in 2018 brought her career to an abrupt end.

"Of course you want to win more World Championship titles, but I don't have the big goal of breaking this mark in mind," says Friedrich, who was always sponsored by Vogel, who is now a paraplegic. Hinze also rejects historical comparisons: "If you compare yourself, it's more toxic than it is helpful. Every person, every path is different. If you now had the goal of winning twelve World Championship titles, I don't know if you would appreciate how many you have already won."

World Cycling Championships 2023: Team sprint on Thursday

Over the past three years, the 23-year-old Friedrich and Hinze, who is two years older, have dominated the world's top riders. Ten of the twelve possible World Championship titles have been won by the two exceptional riders, who have remained friends despite their internal rivalry. But first they will be going for gold together: in the team sprint on Thursday together with Pauline Grabosch as the third rider. In the past, this has always been a sure gold medal for the German team.

It was only at the Olympics in Tokyo that the two sprinters' gold medals didn't work out - they only managed silver in the team. Hinze had travelled here as a triple world champion and the firm favourite. "When I won in Berlin (2020 World Championships), I didn't see it as a burden. But I realised how much everyone was looking at me and my performance at the Olympics. And how it felt like my opponents were only racing against me," recalls Hinze. "Experiencing that directly on site was difficult because I had never experienced it before and didn't know how to deal with it."

"Important to remain mentally stable until the last day"

She has since learnt from this, and the Hildesheim-born athlete has also sought mental help. This should stand her in good stead for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. At the previous World Championships on the Olympic track in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Friedrich and Hinze learnt what role the audience can play. They were not only up against strong French women, but also against 5000 fans. Accordingly, Friedrich emphasises how important it is to remain "mentally stable until the last day".

After the World Cup last October, the two German stars were no longer able to do much. Hinze decided against defending his title in the Champions League and Friedrich withdrew during the series due to illness. Their batteries have since been recharged. "If they carry on like this, they will also become Olympic champions," said two-time Olympic champion Vogel to the internet portal Sport1.

But first of all, the next World Championship titles are on the cards. And national coach Jan van Eijden is confident: "I think we can compete for the women's titles in all disciplines. It just depends on how we perform on the day." If that's right, part one of the title mission should succeed on Thursday evening.

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