After 22 years without a World Championship medal, the German men’s track cycling foursome finally won bronze in the 4000-meter team pursuit, triumphing over Japan. Celebrating alongside them, the women’s team earned silver, showcasing remarkable performances despite a difficult final against the British team. National coach Sven Meyer expressed pride in the young athletes’ success, marking a significant turn for a once-dominant German cycling tradition that includes five Olympic victories and 16 world titles in its history.
After a 22-year wait, the German team has clinched a medal, winning bronze in a thrilling finish. The history of success in this sport for Germany includes five Olympic titles and 16 world championships. It’s a moment of celebration for the women’s team as well.
Tim Torn Teutenberg and his teammates erupted in joy at the Ballerup Super Arena near Copenhagen when they achieved what hadn’t been done in over two decades. The men’s track cycling team finally secured a World Championship medal, finishing the 4000-metre team pursuit in a time of 3:52.707 against Japan, who faced a crash in the closing moments. Abrilliant performance by the women’s team followed, earning them a silver medal.
“We were all eager to win a medal, especially knowing it had been 22 years since the last one,” Teutenberg expressed. Youngster Ben Felix Jochum, who was born after Germany’s last podium finish in this category, remarked, “It couldn’t have gone better. This medal will motivate us for the long haul, especially as we aim for the Olympics in LA.”
Women’s Team Makes Remarkable Comeback
On the second day of competition, both the men’s and women’s teams celebrated their successes. The German women’s four made an impressive return, advancing to the grand final, but they ultimately faced a stronger British team.
Comprising Lisa Klein, Franziska Brauße, Laura Süßemilch, and Mieke Kröger, the team clocked a remarkable time of 4:11.602 to overcome Italy earlier in the event. With three members from the gold-medal winning team in Tokyo 2021, they showcased an incredible last-kilometre performance to secure their spot in the final. However, despite a switch to Lena Charlotte Reißner for Süßemilch, they couldn’t keep the momentum going in the final heat.
A Legacy of Success Revisited
The German teams aimed high in both events, with the women’s squad expected to medal, while the men’s triumph was somewhat unexpected. National coach Sven Meyer shared his delight, highlighting the promising young athletes like Bruno Kessler and Jochum taking full advantage of their opportunities. “A bit of luck was on our side, but it’s been a long drought, and now it’s over,” he remarked. Germany also benefited from the absence of Olympic champs Australia and an early exit by bronze medallists Italy.
Once regarded as a dominant force in cycling, the German four had an illustrious past with five Olympic victories and 16 world championships. Their historic win in Sydney 2000, when they first broke the four-minute barrier, marked their peak. However, since 2002, the team has struggled, even missing out on Olympic invitations in past years, with the latest qualifiers in Paris being a challenge.