Track: The Belgian runner wants to take off again – News

One of the reasons he joined the Belgian Cycling Tour was the revival of running. Under New Zealand coach Tim Carswell, the winds of change have blown the Belgian sprint. Two weeks ago, Belgium participated, for the first time, in the Elite Women’s Team Sprint Championship in Glasgow. Although a “middle” Twelfth place According to artistic director Frederic Broschi, the enthusiasm is evident among the trio of Julie Nicolais, Nikki Degrindelli and Valerie Jenner. “It’s not bad at all, knowing that we only trained together once before this world championship. If we weren’t planning any progress, we might as well stop right away.”Nikki DeGrendel slide into a microphone DirectVelo.

With Elke Vanhoof out due to injury, Belgium is launching a four-team draft for the 2028 Olympic Games. “I hope we can count on other girls in the future, but I’m not going to complain, because two years ago I was still lonely. We have a new track in Zolder to train. I’m really excited to do this project.”says Nikki DeGrendel with a beaming smile. A drive that should be attributed in part to Tim Carswell, who aspires to bring her back to the world top she reached in 2018 by becoming the world keirin champion in Apeldoorn (Netherlands). “Tactically, she is one of the best in the world. Few athletes maneuver so well in kirin. She has been very isolated in recent years, which has not been good for her motivation. Now she can train with dozens of athletes, which is much more Hazar .”

Guys start after paris

This team speed project allows Nikki DeGrindley to share her passion for running with other riders, notably Julie Nikolais, who also excels in BMX and dreams of becoming a professional on the track, as well as Valerie Jenner, who is embarking on a new sporting challenge. The 27-year-old athlete has been a cyclist since the coronavirus pandemic. Hasseltoise has a background in ice hockey, where she was the leading scorer for the national team, and was also active in bobsleigh with the Belgian Bullets. Today, this former rower is starting a new chapter, while managing her active life (she runs a marketing company). “It’s great for me to be present at the World Championships. I started cycling two years ago. It’s great to be there as a cycling enthusiast. I will continue this project keeping the Olympic dream in mind.”

If the project is already underway for women, it won’t take long for it to materialize for men. After the Paris Games, the men will also participate in a team sprint event with the same goal in mind: to get to Los Angeles. Juniors Jino Fingerhöts, Törfen Mertens and Nikolas Ehrnotz finished third at the recent European Junior Championships in Anadia. So the Belgians really started on Rodeo Drive.