German sprinters win gold again, Dygert back up to speed

American Chloe Dygert romped to victory in the women’s individual 3km pursuit -- lapping Germany’s Franziska Brausse on the last lap

Gold medallists Chloe Dygert of the U.S. celebrates on the podium during the women’s elite individual pursuit medal ceremony. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Germany’s track trio Lea Friedrich, Emma Hinze and Pauline Grabosch powered to a fourth successive gold medal in the team sprint and set a world record in the process at the first combined UCI World Championships on Thursday.

An 11-day feast of cycling spanning all the disciplines began on the boards of the Chris Hoy Velodrome, and Germany’s speed merchants stole the show.

Germany’s Pauline Sophie Grabosch, left, Emma Hinze, center, and Lea Friedrich pose with their gold medals after winning The Women’s Elite Team Sprint race during day one of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. | Photo Credit: AP

In a gripping final, they narrowly edged out Britain’s Lauren Bell, Sophie Capewell and Emma Finucane, clocking a time of 45.848 seconds to lower their own mark set last year.

Britain also broke the old world record as they claimed the country’s best result in the discipline for 12 years.

American Chloe Dygert romped to victory in the women’s individual 3km pursuit -- lapping Germany’s Franziska Brausse on the last lap. It was Dygert’s first major medal since 2020 when she had three surgeries on a serious leg injury suffered at the 2020 road world championships.

Dygert looked underwhelmed after crossing the line in 3:17.542, shaking her head in disappointment at not lowering her own world record set in Berlin in 2020.

“It feels really special, hearing the national anthem again because it’s been a long three years,” the 26-year-old said.

A day that began in disappointing fashion for the home nation when their men’s team pursuit squad crashed out in qualifying ended on a high as William Tidball stormed to gold in the men’s scratch race.

Tidball surged from the pack on the last lap of 60 around the wooden oval and crossed the line in first place ahead of Japan’s Kazushige Kuboki.

“To come here and become world champion at the first time of asking is what dreams are made of,” Tidball, who tucked himself in the main pack throughout the race, told reporters.

“I thought I had left it a bit late. One of the riders died off. In that last bit, I was holding on and praying nobody would get round me.”

TEAM SPRINT

Germany’s women have dominated the team sprint at world championships since 2020, although they missed out on gold at the Tokyo Olympics, beaten by China.

But they served notice they will again be the benchmark in Paris next year with a masterful race to hold at bay a youthful British trio who looked on course to win the country’s first gold in the women’s team sprint since 2008.

World champions Britain will not be contesting the blue-riband team pursuit medal battle on Saturday, though after calamity struck in the qualifiers.

With the finishing line in sight, Charlie Tanfield fell heavily, meaning only two riders crossed the line.

Tanfield, who also crashed during the Tokyo Olympics, had slipped slightly behind his teammates Dan Bigham and Ethan Vernon, with Oliver Wood already having dropped out.

He appeared to lose grip on the blue line on the inside of the track and crashed hard, sustaining a concussion.

Denmark’s Niklas Larsen, Carl-Frederik Bevort, Frederik Madsen and Lasse Leth topped the qualifying times with 3:46.816, as New Zealand and Italy rounded out the top three.

In Friday’s round one, Denmark will face Australia and New Zealand are up against Italy, with the winners contesting the gold medal ride on Saturday.

Para events are taking place at the same time, and Britain’s Jody Cundy set a world record in the 200m time trial as part of the omnium event, clocking 10.427 seconds at 69kph.