Dutch Cyclists Van de Wouw and Wiebes Triumph Again at UCI Championships

Post by : Mara Rahim

On Friday, Hetty van de Wouw from the Netherlands triumphed in the women’s sprint event at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships, defeating Japan’s Mina Sato in two heats. This victory marks her as only the second Dutch woman to take this title since Ingrid Haringa in 1991.

The 24-year-old sprinter added this title to her team sprint gold, which she secured earlier alongside teammates Steffie van der Peet and Kimberly Kalee. After the race, an overwhelmed van de Wouw expressed her disbelief: “I can’t quite believe it yet. It’s super cool,” she shared, reflecting on her remarkable achievement.

Van de Wouw attributed her confidence to winning in the preliminary rounds, specifically her victory over Olympic champion Ellesse Andrews in the quarterfinals. “When I beat Ellesse Andrews, I thought: okay, I’m good. But to become world champion is really bizarre,” she commented.

Meanwhile, Lorena Wiebes, also representing the Netherlands, captured the women’s omnium title. She reclaimed the lead in the final sprint after France’s Marion Borras briefly surged ahead by lapping the field. This win represents Wiebes’ third world title in a fortnight, following her victories in both the scratch race and Gravel World Championships.

Describing her win as an extraordinary accomplishment, Wiebes noted: “So much can happen in an omnium. This is of course what you hope for, but I didn’t quite expect it.” Her performance in the elimination race boosted her confidence, enabling her to maintain control and secure the title. “Winning three titles in two weeks is the icing on the cake of a great season,” she added.

The UCI Track Cycling World Championships will proceed over the weekend, featuring events like the kilometre time trial and keirin, where van de Wouw will compete again. Both Dutch cyclists are anticipated to vie for additional medals and continue their stellar performances.

In men's competitions, Britain’s Josh Charlton clinched his first world title in the Individual Pursuit by defeating Denmark’s Rasmus Pedersen in the final, while American Anders Johnson captured third place. Fellow Briton Josh Tarling also excelled in the men’s points race, finishing ahead of American Peter Moore and France's Clement Petit.

This day highlighted the Netherlands' ongoing strength in track cycling, particularly in women's events, where multiple gold medals were secured. Both van de Wouw and Wiebes showcased exceptional skill and consistency, emphasizing the depth of Dutch talent on a global stage.