Leif Lampater, Jasper de Buyst, Robert Retschke (Kuota) and Robert Förstemann are the winners of the first night of the 6-day race in Berlin.
After the starting gun, which was given by football legends Franz Beckenbauer and Uwe Seeler, almost 12.500 spectators in the capital's velodrome saw exciting fights.
With Leif Lampater and Jasper de Buyst, a team that is one of the top favorites was able to top the overall standings right on the first evening. In the very first hunt, in which all the favorite teams underlined their ambitions to win, the duo achieved the necessary lap win. They were able to defend this until the end.
With 62 points, Lampater and De Buyst are now tied in laps ahead of Kenny de Ketele and Andreas Müller, who have 52 points, as well as Robert Bartko and Theo Reinhardt, who have 41 points. Madison World Champion Vivien Brissé and Christian Grasmann follow in fourth place.
Besides the six-day duos, the stayer cyclists also flexed their muscles as usual. Robert Retschke got off to the best start, winning the first race of the Esso Stayer World Cup . In a thrilling three-way battle, the third-place finisher in the German Championships, paced by Karsten Podlesch, prevailed in the final against European Champion Mario Birrer from Switzerland, paced by Helmut Baur, and Patrick Kos from the Netherlands, paced by René Kos. As the winner of the first race, Retschke is also the first leader in the overall standings.
Robert Förstemann, who lives in Berlin by choice, provided another highlight. In the sprinter meeting, he set a new lap record on the track. He leads the classification after the first night in front of Levy and Poland's Damian Zielinski.
National driver Lisa Küllmer caused a little surprise for the women. The 20-year-old won the points race and finished third in the elimination race, leading the overall standings ahead of Slovakia's Alzbeta Pavlendova and Kelly Markus. The top favorites for victory, Stephanie Pohl and Charlotte Becker, are currently fourth and seventh.
//Result
1. Leif Lampater (Germany) / Jasper de Buyst (Belgium) 62 points
2. Kenny de Ketele (Belgium) / Andreas Müller (Austria) 52 points
3. Robert Bartko (Germany) / Theo Reinhardt (Germany) 41 points
4. Vivien Brissé (France) / Christian Grasmann (Germany) 39 points and 1 lap
5. Yoeri Havik (Netherlands) / Vojtech Hacecky (Czech Republic) 20 points and 1 lap