With a demonstration of its own strength, the German women's four-wheeler won the World Championship title in the team pursuit and thus made the triple of gold at the Olympics, European Championships and World Championships perfect.

In the line-up of Franziska Brauße, Lisa Brennauer, Mieke Kröger and Laura Süßemilch, the quartet in Roubaix beat rival Italy with a clear lead in 4: 08.752 minutes and thus completed an all-round dominant performance that began with victory in the qualification and with a success went on in the semifinals including lapping over Ireland.

“We had to improve step by step.

It worked best in the final.

That was really a dream, ”said Brennauer.

Italy was previously seen as an opponent on an equal footing and was then defeated by almost five seconds.

“We are now enjoying what we have achieved,” said Brauße.

At the moment of the victory, loud cheers had penetrated the Vélodrome.

For the team, which left no doubts about its dominance even in the absence of the injured Lisa Klein, it is the third major triumph within three months.

In Tokyo there was a final victory against Great Britain, at the European Championship in Grenchen, Switzerland, the Italians were also the opponents in the final.

“It should give us a boost, which we have already achieved this year.

We don't have the pressure to absolutely have to deliver ”, Brennauer had said in advance.

Impressive appearance

This applies in a very special way to the 33-year-old woman from the Allgäu. Where Brennauer participates in 2021, it is usually very successful: In addition to the three titles with the four in the team pursuit and an EM individual title, she also won the rainbow jersey at the road cycling world championships - there in the mixed time trial. Together with Kröger, who emphasized: "If you are an Olympic and European champion, you also have the goal of getting your hands on the stripes."

Defending champion Emma Hinze and her teammate Lea Sophie Friedrich could ensure that the gold series also lasts on the third day of the competition in the sprint on Friday evening (6:25 p.m. live on Eurosport). The duo easily cleared the first hurdles in qualification, round of 16 and quarter-finals on the day after the title in the team sprint. It was different for Pauline Grabosch, who lost in her quarter-final duel with Canada's Olympic champion Kelsey Mitchell in both rounds.

After the bronze coup the day before, the men remained medalless this time.

Stefan Bötticher missed the leap into the finals of the best six in the Keirin and had to be content with seventh place overall after the small final in the evening.

In the scratch race, Tim Torn Teutenberg had no chance when local hero Donavan Grondin won.

The men's four-man track bike had already been eliminated in the qualification.

Italy won the final with professional road bike Filippo Ganna against France.