Olympic cycling team check: Hoping for the sprinters

Second place in the medal table with a total of 14 gold medals and 32 podium places - at first glance, the German team's record at the World Cycling Championships in Scotland looks excellent.

However, when it comes to the Olympic disciplines, there is some catching up to do a year before the Olympic Games in Paris. This is because the artistic cyclists - who won six gold medals in Glasgow - are not competing there. The German team in the Olympic check:

World Cycling Championships 2023: Road

In the men's race, the German team had no chance in the elimination race of the stars in the road race. Lennard Kämna and Nils Politt were also more than three minutes behind the Belgian world champion Remco Evenepoel in the individual time trial and thus even missed out on the second starting place in Paris. There is hardly any improvement in sight on the classic course at the Olympics. Two-time German champion Maximilian Schachmann would be the most likely candidate, but the Berlin-born rider has been out of form for two years due to health problems. Things are looking better for the women. With Liane Lippert, Ricarda Bauernfeind and U23 world champion Antonia Niedermaier, a strong generation has emerged, even if the road race ended in disappointment (19th place). Forecast: A medal in the women's race is possible.

>> All road world champions & world champions at a glance

World Cycling Championships 2023: Track

You can rely on the top German sprinters. In the team sprint, Emma Hinze, Lea Sophie Friedrich and Pauline Grabosch won the World Championship title for the fourth time in a row. Now they want to win gold at the Olympics too. In the Olympic sprint and keirin disciplines, the 23-year-old Friedrich took silver and bronze, while Hinze faltered. In contrast, the gold quad from Tokyo crashed. There were no medals for the men on the track. Prediction: The sprinters will collect a few medals on the wooden oval in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines this time. The women's four could still win a medal if they improve, but it won't be enough for gold. The men will probably not be able to catch up before Paris.

World Cycling Championships 2023: Mountain bike

Luca Schwarzbauer finished ninth in the cross-country race in Glentress Forest, making him one of the world's best, while German champion Leonie Daubermann finished 13th. However, world champions Thomas Pidcock (Great Britain) and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (France) are in a different league. Prediction: There will be no German medal.

World Cycling Championships 2023: BMX

In freestyle, Kim Lea Müller, who finished second at the European Championships, came tenth. However, the conditions were not the best for her. But the 21-year-old is developing in the right direction. On a good day, she can keep up with the best. In the men's event, the world's best are further away. The same applies to the BMX racers. The finals in Glasgow took place without any German participation. Forecast: With a bit of luck, Müller could win a medal.

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