The European Track Cycling Championships take place in Zolder from Wednesday to Sunday.
12.02.2025, 05:00
12.02.2025, 07:05
SDA
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- The European Track Cycling Championships are coming up.
- There are changes for the women. The competition distances have been adjusted.
- For example, the individual pursuit will now be 4 kilometers instead of the previous 3 kilometers - so a Swiss woman will set a new and first Swiss record in the race.
Preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles have long since begun for the national track team. The Swiss are aiming to qualify in the team pursuit, as this also entitles them to compete in the Madison and the Omnium. In the short term, the aim for the significantly rejuvenated teams at the European Cycling Track Championships in Zolder is to confirm the progress demonstrated at the World Championships in Copenhagen in the fall.
In the women's four, the aim is to improve the Swiss record - the mark of 4:21.751 minutes set two years ago at the European Championships in Grenchen with the help of Marlen Reusser.
Swiss Cycling's European Championship squad comprises six female and seven male athletes. Among them is Lukas Rüegg, who has recovered faster than expected from the broken collarbone he suffered in January and is expected to compete in the points race. This will be the Zurich rider's debut; he will end his career after the title fights.
In view of the new year, the UCI has adjusted a number of competition distances - with the aim of aligning the men's and women's programs. The most relevant change is in the women's individual pursuit, which is now also over four (and no longer three) kilometers. This means that there will be a new national record holder in Zolder. Meanwhile, Fabienne Buri from Bern will go down in Swiss cycling history as the 3-km record holder with her mark of 3:33.242 minutes (2022).
