# Double Dutch delight at European track champs

*By Simon | February 16, 2025*

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![](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/lavwins.jpg)

## 󠀁[Double Dutch delight at European track champs](https://globalkeirin.com/2025/02/double-dutch-delight-at-european-track-championships/)󠁿

16 February 2025

**Harrie Lavreysen** delivered as decisive a win as you can imagine at
international level, leaving a strong men’s final field in his wake to retain
his European keirin title for another year.

With the Dutchman drawn at the back of the line, everyone knew what was coming.
Maximilian Dörnbach, initially placed directly behind the derny, moved back in
the line to make it easier to respond. Others just looked over their shoulders
anxiously, awaiting the inevitable.

It came with just over two laps to go. He was forced high up the track as those
nearer the back tried to respond; but into corner 3 with a lap and a half left,
Lavreysen took the front – and took off. The gap widened to seven or eight
lengths, and the on-screen speed indicator suggested he broke 80km/h.

He had plenty of time to raise his arms in familiar celebration, leaving us to
await the scrap for podium places. Dörnbach held on tightly for second, with
Derache finishing fast for bronze.

Lavreysen finished the week unbeaten as an individual, winning every race on the
way to sprint and keirin gold; but only a silver in the team sprint, behind the
French.

### 󠀁[UEC](https://globalkeirin.com/event/f7ed9e23/)󠁿 > 󠀁[Track Elite European Championships](https://globalkeirin.com/event/f7ed9e23/85e43763/)󠁿 > 󠀁[2025](https://globalkeirin.com/event/f7ed9e23/85e43763/b3fb3a09/)󠁿⏎ Final

<table>
        <tr><th colspan="5">Details</th></tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">Velodrome</td>
            <td colspan="3"><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/velodrome/heusden-zolder/">Heusden-Zolder</a></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">Date</td>
            <td colspan="3">16 Feb 2025</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th colspan="5">UEC Track Elite European Championships 2025 : Final</th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th colspan="5">Result</th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th>Pos</th><th>Draw</th><th>Nat</th>
            <th>Rider</th>
            <th></th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
                <td><span>1</span></td><td><span>6</span></td>
                <td>NED</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/harrie-lavreysen/">Harrie Lavreysen</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>2</span></td><td><span>1</span></td>
                <td>GER</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/maximilian-dornbach/">Maximilian Dörnbach</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>3</span></td><td><span>3</span></td>
                <td>FRA</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/tom-derache/">Tom Derache</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>4</span></td><td><span>2</span></td>
                <td>ITA</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/stefano-moro/">Stefano Moro</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>5</span></td><td><span>4</span></td>
                <td>POL</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/mateusz-rudyk/">Mateusz Rudyk</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>6</span></td><td><span>5</span></td>
                <td>FRA</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/sebastien-vigier/">Sébastien Vigier</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr></table>

In the women’s competition, **Steffie van der Peet** took her first solo success
at the highest level, stretching to win a stacked medal race by less than half a
wheel.

Great Britain’s **Rhian Edmunds** had been drawn first behind the derny, and
found herself with an unexpected gap on the field. With two laps to go, she
decided to press on, hoping to hold off the field.

Van der Peet, still in second, drew alongside her with half a lap remaining, and
emerged from the final corner slightly ahead. But Edmunds found a little more in
the tank, and looked like she could maybe snatch it back at the line – but van
der Peet’s throw gave her the few centimetres she needed.

![2025 UEC Track Elite European Championships](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/AW6_4140.jpg)

_Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com_

**Hetty van de Wouw** found a gap behind van der Peet as neutral athlete
**Alina Lysenko** tussled with GB’s **Lauren Bell**, and claimed bronze with a
strong photobomb effort.

That’s a second gold this week for van der Peet: she was in the Netherlands team
which won team sprint, but had a disappointingly early exit in the individual
sprint. Rhian Edmunds, meanwhile, goes home with three silvers.

### 󠀁[UEC](https://globalkeirin.com/event/f7ed9e23/)󠁿 > 󠀁[Track Elite European Championships](https://globalkeirin.com/event/f7ed9e23/85e43763/)󠁿 > 󠀁[2025](https://globalkeirin.com/event/f7ed9e23/85e43763/b3fb3a09/)󠁿⏎ Final

<table>
        <tr><th colspan="5">Details</th></tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">Velodrome</td>
            <td colspan="3"><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/velodrome/heusden-zolder/">Heusden-Zolder</a></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">Date</td>
            <td colspan="3">16 Feb 2025</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th colspan="5">UEC Track Elite European Championships 2025 : Final</th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th colspan="5">Result</th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th>Pos</th><th>Draw</th><th>Nat</th>
            <th>Rider</th>
            <th></th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
                <td><span>1</span></td><td><span>2</span></td>
                <td>NED</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/steffie-van-der-peet/">Steffie van der Peet</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>2</span></td><td><span>1</span></td>
                <td>GBR</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/rhian-edmunds/">Rhian Edmunds</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>3</span></td><td><span>4</span></td>
                <td>NED</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/hetty-van-de-wouw/">Hetty van de Wouw</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>4</span></td><td><span>5</span></td>
                <td>AIN</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/alina-lysenko/">Alina Lysenko</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>5</span></td><td><span>6</span></td>
                <td>ITA</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/miriam-vece/">Miriam Vece</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>6</span></td><td><span>3</span></td>
                <td>GBR</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/lauren-bell/">Lauren  Bell</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr></table>

**Lea Sophie Friedrich**, seeking a fifth successive European keirin title,
failed to make the final. But like **Mikhail Yakovlev** in the men’s minor final
soon after, she was determined to finish on a high, and won the support race in
decisive fashion.

**Categories:** Original