Gold for women, bronze for men: the track cycling world championship has started successfully for the German team.

Track Cycling World Championship

Roubaix (dpa) – Detlef Uibel took out his cell phone and started taking pictures. For a short time, the 62-year-old national coach of the German track cycling team was the biggest fan of his proteges.

He first took pictures of his gold trio Emma Hinze, Lea Sophie Friedrich and Pauline Grabosch on the podium – then he enthusiastically documented the joy of the bronze stroke of Stefan Bötticher, Joachim Eilers, Nik Schröter and Marc Jurczyk. “What I’m really happy with is the men’s medal, because it’s the first for many years,” said Uibel after the first night of the World Cup in Roubaix.

Special days are dawning for Uibel in the north of France, as he will retire at the end of the year. Since 1996 he has been the short-term zone head coach and one of the most successful coaches in the history of the association and German sport. According to the BDR, there were 14 Olympic medals during his tenure, including three gold, now 85 plaques at the world championships and more than 100 at the European championships. “I’m really happy that it worked out like this,” said the coach again.

The farewell is certain

The chances of the women’s team around reigning three-time champion Hinze winning more medals are good. “What could be nicer than stopping with a world title and three world records?” Uibel asked after Hinze, Friedrich and Grabosch improved their record at the Velodrome three times in a row.

But her decision to say goodbye is in place. Even after the dream start of the World Cup, Uibel does not feel sad, as he assured. “I maintain it, I’m done with that too. I am completely insensitive to this. “

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 211021-99-675690 / 3