This was not to be expected. Old champion Roger Kluge and his teammate, who is 16 years younger, surprisingly win gold in the two-man team race. In doing so, they also save the German balance sheet.
Old master Roger Kluge distributed hand kisses to the audience, then he took his wife Judith and their two children in his arms and wiped the tears from his eyes. Youngster Tim Torn Teutenberg also couldn’t believe his luck and kept shaking his head in disbelief. The newly formed duo ensured a furious finale at the Track Cycling World Championships and gave the German team their longed-for first gold medal at the end of the title fights in Copenhagen.
After an outstanding performance over 50 kilometers, the 38-year-old Kluge and Teutenberg, who is 16 years his junior, confidently won the title with 76 points ahead of Belgium (60) and Denmark (59). For Kluge it was the third title in the popular two-man team race. He had previously triumphed with his long-time partner Theo Reinhardt in 2018 and 2019. Reinhardt wasn’t there in Copenhagen this time; instead, 22-year-old Teutenberg stepped in and impressed straight away.
“It was unexpected again. Two days ago I didn’t believe that we would win the title in the end. We were able to implement our plan 1:1,” said Kluge and added: “Tim played his heart out today and kept where we wanted to go – young and impetuous.” Part of the title also goes to Theo Reinhardt, “with whom I spent a lot of time before the Olympics this year,” said Kluge.
Kluge makes the decision
The decision was made in the penultimate classification, when Kluge went out and got the decisive points. The duo had previously won two rounds. Kluge had only arrived by car on Friday, but the veteran had no problems adapting. “I always watched Roger as a young driver – to now become world champion with him is of course crazy,” said Teutenberg.
In doing so, the duo barely averted the worst German record since 2007. The Association of German Cyclists (BDR) ended the title fights after 22 decisions with a gold, a silver and a bronze medal.
In recent years, the two top German sprinters Lea Sophie Friedrich and Emma Hinze have saved the balance with their many successes. The two eight-time world champions were sorely missed in Copenhagen. Ten weeks after the Olympic Games in Paris, it became clear at the title fights in Copenhagen that the next generation is not yet among the world’s best.
Moster: “There’s still a lot to do”
“We started with a very young team to enable our athletes to determine their international position. I think it is now clear to everyone that there is still a lot to do to reach the top in the world,” summarized Patrick Moster. The BDR sports director was optimistic about several top eight placements. “The basis is there,” Moster continued.
In the women’s short-term division, young talents such as Alessa-Catriona Pröpster (Offenbach) and Clara Schneider (Cottbus) were unable to make a decisive impact in the absence of Hinze & Co. The unexpected fourth place in the team sprint should not obscure this. For the European Championships in February in Belgium, the BDR is therefore planning a return of the successful trio from Cottbus, who had given themselves a break after winning bronze in the team sprint at the Olympics.
Sprinters are a concern
The change initiated by national coach Jan van Eijden for the sprint men, however, is making slow progress. After his good Olympic performance, the second sporting highlight within ten weeks came too early for the young Luca Spiegel from Kaiserslautern. “We know that we are no longer where we were seven or eight years ago. Rebuilding takes time,” said Moster.
The men’s foursome, on the other hand, showed that the future can belong to young people. The quartet seized the opportunity. In the absence of some top nations, the youngest team in the field (average age 20.5 years) won a World Cup medal for the first time in 22 years with bronze. A successor for national coach Sven Meyer, who will be moving to a different role at the end of the year, should also be found. Young national coach Marcel Franz, who helped look after the team in Ballerup, wants to continue working in the junior sector.
Source: Stern
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