Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 7:24 PM
Harrie Lavreysen was betting on four world titles at the Track Cycling World Championships in Denmark. In the end there were three for the sprinter, who surprisingly did not reach the final only on the keirin. Lavreysen won the team sprint, the kilometer time trial and the individual sprint, meaning he now holds a special record. “It’s crazy,” is Lavreysen’s own conclusion.
This is the sixteenth world title of the Brabant sprinter at the Track Cycling World Championships. Nobody did it better. “You know that you go into the tournament with a good feeling, but in the end Jeffrey ensures that a lot of strong men finish,” says Lavreysen in conversation with the NOS on compatriot Jeffrey Hoogland, whom he beat in the final of the sprint tournament.
“I had a nice day today, rode a great tournament. I can feel my legs now, but I was able to drive very controlled,” he explains. “I had a good focus in the semi-finals and finals and relied on my own strength.”
For Hoogland, his silver medal felt like a golden place at the World Cup. “I also went into the tournament well and rode a very nice tournament,” he says. He managed to surprise the competition with a few surprises on his way to that final place. Lavreysen was far too strong in this regard. “You don’t become world champion in the final. How Harrie got there is so much more efficient… I was empty and couldn’t do much anymore. He beat me in class.”
Both sprinters are now going to let go of the reins. “I’m not going to touch the bike for two weeks,” Lavreysen admits. “Then I will prepare for the Champions League, which will also be in Apeldoorn at the end of November. I want to be at the start there and ride well. And then we also have the Six Days.” The same schedule awaits Hoogland: “First get some rest, then the Champions League, the Six Days and then rest.”
