Track cycling: The SIX DAY BERLIN is open. The pros are doing their laps again at the most frequently held six-day race in the world. The 107th Berlin Sixdays started on Thursday evening. The fastest sprinters and the best duos in the SIX DAY SERIES will compete in the Velodrom on Landsberger Allee until Tuesday. At the start, the fans were also able to admire a race of legends.
SIX DAY BERLIN 2018 starts with 7.900 spectators
After the exciting Six-day race in Bremen, fans of track cycling can now look forward to the next hit in Berlin. At the oldest Sixdays in the world, I measure the currently strongest pros in the Berlin Velodrom on Landsberger Allee. At 19:25 p.m. on Thursday evening in front of 7.900 spectators, Andreas Geisel, Senator for the Interior and Sport, gave the starting signal. The shooting of the Berlin sports legends Sven Felski and Torsten Mattuschka, which took place a little later, was also eagerly awaited. After that, the cycling legends threw themselves on their bikes and spun in circles. Olaf Ludwig still proved to be extremely enduring and strong in sprinting. He won the "COSY-WASH Night of Legends" ahead of Jens Veggerby and Jens Voigt.
Valts Miltovics:
“The mood and the atmosphere in the Velodrom are unique. We saw great sport. That promises a lot of excitement for the coming days."
The first win of #SixDayBerlin go to @clever_roger & Theo Reinhardt in the Madison Chase 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/xho82s6jqB
— Six Day (@sixdaycycling) 25 January 2018
The first four within five points
Of course, the main focus was on the overall ranking of the still active professionals. In addition to the German duo Roger Kluge and Theo Reinhardt, last year's Dutch winners Wim Stroetinga and Yoeri Havik are also at the start, as are the top favorites from Belgium, Moreno De Pauw and Kenny De Ketele. However, the last-mentioned pros did not get off to a good start at SIX DAY BERLIN. After Day #1, they are only eleven points behind in #5. The German duo Kluge/Reinhardt started much better. The first hunt went straight to them. In the overall standings they are only three points behind in #3. Last year's Dutch winners Wim Stroetinga and Yoeri Havik are currently in the lead because they were ahead in the 45-minute hunt. However, the Swiss duo Nico Selenati and Tristan Marguet is only two points behind. As expected, nothing has been decided after the first day of SIX DAY BERLIN.
Wim Streotinga:
“Of course we want to win again, but the fight won't be over until Tuesday. The field is very close together at the moment. Everything is possible."
There's a battle royale in the Team Elimination but it's @NSelenati and @t_marguet who comes out on top! Great racing at #SixDayBerlin ???????????? pic.twitter.com/uzMmjtXo0Y
— Six Day (@sixdaycycling) 25 January 2018
Strong comeback by Stefan Bötticher
Stefan Bötticher caused a big cheer in the Berlin Velodrom. After a long injury break, the sprinter celebrated his comeback yesterday – and what a comeback. After victories in the 250 m time trial and the sprint final, he is in the lead with 48 points. Behind him are Maximilian Levy and Pavel Kelemen who have the same number of points on 40 points. There was also an innovation at the SIX DAY BERLIN, because for the first time the women also started on the first day. France's Laurie Berthon dominated the start and deservedly has the lead. The Italian Maria Giulia and the German Lisa Klein are already a long way behind. But we know: It's not all over yet at the SIX DAY BERLIN.
Stefan Boetticher:
“I'm positively surprised at how well things went today and I'm very confident that we can do even better in the coming days. But it's going to be tough. We will see some more exciting races with the local heroes Levy and Förstemann.”
It's a tight finish but there's no denying @LaurieBerthon in the Women's Elimination Race! The 🇫🇷 rider extends her lead at the end of Day 1 at #SixDayBerlin pic.twitter.com/Jyn3G142Pg
— Six Day (@sixdaycycling) 25 January 2018