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World Championships: Paul Fietzke becomes Vice World Champion in the U19 road race

Paul Fietzke wird Vize-Weltmeister im Straßenrennen der Junioren. (Foto: Sprintcyclingagency)

The 17-year-old from the Team Auto Eder won the silver medal in Saturday's road race in Glasgow behind the Dane Albert Withen Philipsen.
After an outstanding performance, German Paul Fietzke won the silver medal in the junior road race at the World Cycling Championships in Glasgow. The 17-year-old from the BORA - hansgrohe junior team Auto Eder rode a tactically clever race on the course around the Scottish capital and, after 127.7 kilometres, was only beaten by the Dane Albert Withen Philipsen. Fietzke won the sprint of the chasing group ahead of the Norwegian Felix Ørn-Kristoff.
The preliminary decision in the road race of the U19 category was already made in the third of nine laps when a breakaway group around Philipsen and Ørn-Kristoff formed, which Fietzke was also able to join. As the race progressed, several more riders caught up with the leaders, and it soon became clear that the peloton would not be able to intervene in the decision for the medals. At the end of the penultimate lap, Philipsen successfully escaped and laid the foundation for his solo victory. Behind him, Fietzke proved to be the strongest chaser and secured second place 1:19 minutes behind.
In the first of two World Championship races, Team Auto Eder was able to build on last year's success when they won gold in the road race and bronze in the individual time trial with the German Emil Herzog. The time trial in Scotland will now take place on August 11th. There, the Belgian Auto Eder rider Duarte Marivoet, among others, is a candidate for a top result. Paul Fietzke also has outside chances in the fight against the clock.
Result
1 PHILIPSEN Albert Withen Denmark 3:06:26
2 FIETZKE Paul Germany + 1:19
3 ØRN-KRISTOFF Felix Norway s.t.
4 SIERRA Juan David Italy + 1:24
5 STORM Theodor Denmark + 1:29
...
12 KRÁL Kryštof Czech Republic + 3:01
16 CLEMMENSEN Theodor August Denmark s.t.
56 BÁRTA Martin Czech Republic + 12:29
Quotes
"From the first lap, the race was very demanding and fast. But I felt very good, also after I was able to join the leading group. Unfortunately, I was positioned too far back during the decisive attack by Albert Withen Philipsen to be able to react directly. Consequently, I couldn't close the gap. But to be fair, Albert was clearly the fastest today and deserved to win. After feeling that I was the strongest of the chasers, I was able to secure second place. Apart from Albert's missed attack, it was the best race I have done so far in the juniors category. I am very proud to have won the silver medal." - Paul Fietzke
"The race was extremely competitive, but Paul rode very cleverly. Unfortunately, he wasn't on the rear wheel of Philipsen when he made the decisive attack, so there was a gap that is almost impossible to close in a final at this high level. But Paul made the best of the situation and won the silver medal. I am very proud that after Emil Herzog's World Championship title last year, we have now won another World Championship medal. This shows that our work with young talents is bearing fruit. Now we also hope for a good result in the time trial on August 11th." - Christian Schrot, Sporting Director Team Auto Eder

Photo: SprintCyclingAgency