Belgium has closed the European Championship track cycling with 5 medals. On the final day, Robbe Ghys and Fabio Van Den Bossche took bronze in the team race. Nicky De Locke also came close to a medal in the keirin, but she fell just short of the podium.
Just not for De Locke, but price for Van Den Bossche and Ghys
The final day of the European Track Cycling Championships in Munich was mainly dominated by the closing team races, the spectacle number on the track. For the Belgians it was also looking forward to the performance of Nicky De Locke in the keirin. The 2018 world champion was cautiously hoping for a medal after a difficult period.
In the heats she showed herself to be 2nd, in the semi-finals she did even better and rushed to victory. She could start in the final with ambition, but the 25-year-old rider just couldn’t live up to that ambition. She stranded on a bronze sigh, but the disappointment gave way to pride later on. Unlock is back.
The team race only had to yield a fifth Belgian medal on the track. Katrijn De Clercq and Marith Vanhove played an extra role with the women, Robbe Ghys and Fabio Van Den Bossche were contenders with a spot on the medal.
The German duo Kluge/Reinhardt showed themselves supreme from the start and would ride unthreatened to the title, behind which the Belgians tried to compete for silver or bronze. Several attack attempts failed, but Ghys and Van Den Bossche gathered enough for a medal along the way.
With 58 points they did not come close to the silver of France, but they also had a large bonus on first pursuer Portugal. So it was bronze, the 5th Belgian medal on the track in Munich after two golds for Kopecky (points race and elimination), silver for Ghys (points race) and bronze for Hesters (elimination).
De Locke: “I didn’t see the Ukrainian coming, that’s shit”
“The Ukrainian just came over me, I hadn’t seen them coming at all,” responded a disappointed De Locke after her keirin final. “That’s really shit. I did what I could, but I just wasn’t strong enough.”
“I had the craziest nerves I ever had this morning. Fortunately, I got a lot of support from the home front. I want to make the team proud of the World Cup, which is there in two months and that is the big goal. That’s where I get a new chance.”
Belgians at European Championship track cycling August 16
Nicky Degrendele
first round keirin
2nd (to HF)
Nicky Degrendele
half finals keirin
1st (to F)
16.50 u
Kathryn De Clercq
women’s team race
10e
Marith Vanhove
women’s team race
10e
17.35 u
Nicky Degrendele
finale keirin
4e
18.10 u
Robbe Ghys
plow race men
BRONZE
Fabio Van Den Bossche
plow race men
BRONZE
7 pm 31. Robbe Ghys and Fabio Van den Bossche: “We have arrived at our place”.
Robbe Ghys and Fabio Van den Bossche: “We have arrived at our place”
7:30 pm. The European Championship track cycling is over. Belgium closes the tournament with 5 medals. Lotte Kopecky won gold twice (elimination and points race), Robbe Ghys won silver in the points race, Jules Hesters took bronze in the elimination and the duo Robbe Ghys and Fabio Van Den Bossche bronze in the team race. A successful European Championship for the Belgians and national coach Kenny De Ketele. .
The European Championship track cycling is over. Belgium closes the tournament with 5 medals. Lotte Kopecky won gold twice (elimination and points race), Robbe Ghys won silver in the points race, Jules Hesters took bronze in the elimination and the duo Robbe Ghys and Fabio Van Den Bossche bronze in the team race. A successful European Championship for the Belgians and national coach Kenny De Ketele.
7 p.m. 26. Results of the men’s team race. 1. Germany – 101 points 2. France – 91 3. Belgium – 58 4. Portugal – 43 5. Spain – 43 .
Men’s team race results
1. Germany – 101 pts
2. France – 91
3. Belgium – 58
4. Portugal – 43
5. Spain – 43
7 pm 25. For the Belgians this was the highest achievable. It’s a very nice stage. Renaat Schotte.
This was the highest achievable for the Belgians. It’s a very nice stage
Renaat Schotte
7 pm 23. Ghys and Van Den Bossche take BRONZE in team race. The fifth Belgian medal at the European Championship track cycling is a fact. Ghys and Van Den Bossche take bronze after a great team race, in which there was nothing to be done about the dominant home duo Kluge-Reinhardt. .
Ghys and Van Den Bossche take BRONZE in team race
The fifth Belgian medal at the European Championship track cycling is a fact. Ghys and Van Den Bossche take bronze after a great team race, in which there was nothing to be done about the dominant home duo Kluge-Reinhardt.
7 p.m. 9 p.m. The final sprint is coming. The Belgians are going to take bronze! .
The final sprint is coming. The Belgians are going to take bronze!
7 pm 20. The Belgians try again, but the Germans don’t let anyone drive. However, Kluge and Reinhardt don’t have to do the dirty work, because they certainly look like gold. .
The Belgians try again, but the Germans don’t let anyone drive. However, Kluge and Reinhardt don’t have to do the dirty work, because they certainly look like gold.
7:15 PM Ghys tries with another attack, but Kluge drives into the gap. The experienced lot of Lotto-Soudal impresses. 33 laps to go, the bronze is closer for the Belgians. Or can there be more? .
Ghys tries with another attack, but Kluge drives the gap. The experienced lot of Lotto-Soudal impresses. 33 laps to go, the bronze is closer for the Belgians. Or can there be more?
7 p.m. 12. 55 laps to go. Belgium has 50 points, 15 less than the silver French and 11 more than the fourth, Spain. It is gradually money time for Ghys and Van Den Bossche. .
55 more laps to go. Belgium has 50 points, 15 less than the silver French and 11 more than the fourth, Spain. It is gradually money time for Ghys and Van Den Bossche.
7 pm 10. At the moment there seems to be nothing against the supremacy of Germany. Renaat Schotte.
At the moment there seems to be nothing against the supremacy of Germany
Renaat Schotte
7 p.m. 03. Belgians take a lap and are on the medal track. The plan of Ghys and Van Den Bossche succeeds. They take a bonus round, along with Germany and France and now have a medal in their hands. The fourth, Spain, follows on 14 points. The Netherlands is already behind by 23 points. Nothing has been decided yet, but it’s starting to look good. .
Belgians take a lap and are on a medal race
The plan of Ghys and Van Den Bossche succeeds. They take a bonus round, along with Germany and France and now have a medal in their hands. The fourth, Spain, follows on 14 points. The Netherlands is already behind by 23 points. Nothing has been decided yet, but it’s starting to look good.
7 p.m. 01. Of the 15 countries that started, only 9 are in the race. Meanwhile, the Belgians show themselves with an attack, with which they put pressure on the Dutch. Where does the attack end? France and Germany hook up their wagons. .
Of the 15 countries started, only 9 more are in the race. Meanwhile, the Belgians show themselves with an attack, with which they put pressure on the Dutch. Where does the attack end? France and Germany hook up their wagons.
6 p.m. 57. Four countries drive on an island: Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium. They will compete for the medals. Renaat Schotte.
Four countries drive on an island: Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium. They will compete for the medals
Renaat Schotte
6:55 pm Frenchman falls and coolly takes his bike off the track.
Frenchman falls and coolly takes his bike off the slopes
6 p.m. 52. Belgians on track. After 10 of the 25 sprints, the Belgians are fourth with 15 points, two points behind the bronze. That is currently in the hands of the Netherlands. Germany leads with 36 points ahead of France (23 points). As you can see, everything is still playable. .
Belgians on track
After 10 of the 25 sprints, the Belgians are fourth with 15 points, two points behind the bronze. That is currently in the hands of the Netherlands. Germany leads with 36 points ahead of France (23 points). As you can see, everything is still playable.
18 hours 48. It remains to wait for the first real attack attempts. The Germans continue to dominate the sprints, but a winning lap can always shake up the course of the race. .
It remains to wait for the first real attack attempts. The Germans continue to dominate the sprints, but a winning lap can always shake up the course of the race.
18 hours 44. The Belgians are participating well, but for the time being no one can match the dominant Germans. The standings after 70 rounds: 1. Germany – 25 points 2. Netherlands – 17 3. France – 13 4. Belgium – 10 5. Spain – 5 .
The Belgians are participating well, but no one can match the dominant Germans for the time being. Standings after 70 laps:
1. Germany – 25 pts
2. Netherlands – 17
3. France – 13
4. Belgium – 10
5. Spain – 5
6:43 pm We’ve been going for 15 minutes and no country tried to take a lap. At this speed, that’s just impossible. Renaat Schotte.
We’ve been going for 15 minutes and no country tried to take a lap. At this speed, that’s just impossible.
Renaat Schotte
6 pm 38. The Belgians are stirring in the opening phase of the team race. In the first sprints they immediately collect a few points, although they always miss the big loot. Germany with Kluge and Reinhardt and the Netherlands with Havik and Van Schip alternate for the time being in the lead. .
The Belgians are stirring in the opening phase of the team race. In the first sprints they immediately collect a few points, although they always miss the big loot. Germany with Kluge and Reinhardt and the Netherlands with Havik and Van Schip alternate for the time being in the lead.
