Germany’s Alessa-Catriona Propster finds herself in a rather unexpected position after a remarkable performance in the first round of the 2023 UCI Track Champions League. Leading the women’s sprint competition, she is now set to showcase her talents in front of her home fans, as well as her cherished family and friends. Her mantra for success? “It’s important to just be cool and not overthink everything,” she reminds herself.
Propster’s journey in the UCI Track Champions League began with an astonishing start. The 22-year-old sprinter kicked off her series by defeating the reigning World Champion, Emma Finucane, in the opening event. Remarkably, she claims she didn’t have a specific tactical plan for the final, but she was content to start from position one on the track, a lower starting point. This choice played into her strengths, as she knew she could sustain a strong front-running position.
As Finucane took the high road on the track, Propster seized the opportunity and made an early move, swiftly establishing a significant lead of several bike lengths. Even as the British rider closed in during the final turn, Propster maintained her speed and secured a clear and commanding victory.
Propster herself was surprised by the margin of her victory, wondering aloud where Emma was just meters from the finish line. When asked if her competitors may have underestimated her, she admitted, “Yeah, maybe a little bit, but I think they know that I can be strong.”
Reflecting on her performance in the keirin, she was somewhat self-critical, mentioning that she felt a bit passive. She attributed this to the shorter recovery time between races, which was much less than what sprinters typically have. However, in the end, her efforts paid off, culminating in an impressive third-place finish, where she narrowly missed following Martha Bayona’s lead.
These combined results catapulted her to the top of the women’s sprint league, just ahead of Colombia’s Martha Bayona by a mere three points. With the next round set to take place in her home city, Berlin, Propster is looking forward to tremendous local support. She expressed her excitement and nervousness, as her closest friends and family will be there, some for the first time, to watch her compete. She understands the significance of the occasion and the increased attention on her but remains focused on staying calm and composed.
If Propster aims to maintain her lead in the competition, she knows she needs to keep her composure. Her slender lead makes the competition intense, but she’s also determined to savor the experience. She didn’t anticipate being in such a strong position after the opening weekend, even confessing to Kristina Vogel that leading the league in Berlin would be a funny idea, one she never truly believed would come to fruition.
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