Berlin, January 29, 2023 – The 110th edition of SIX DAY BERLIN, shortened to three days, came to an end on Sunday evening with the victory of local heroes Roger Kluge and Theo Reinhardt. The local heroes presented themselves two weeks before the European Championships in Switzerland already in impressive form and offered the spectators an exciting race. For the organizers, the victory of the Berliners was the icing on the cake of a successful comeback after a two-year break due to corona.

Valts Miltovics, managing director of the Berliner Sechstagerennen GmbH, was relieved with the re-start after the last staging in 2020. “I am very satisfied. Especially the Saturday was very well attended with 5500 spectators. On Family Sunday, this time also the final of the Six Day, I would have liked a few more spectators,” he explained. Attendance figures from pre-Corona times could not be achieved this time because the organizers rigorously waived free tickets as in the past. “Now we can actually assess how much interest there is in cycling in Berlin. To fill up a hall with free tickets is of course easier,” said the Latvian.

The highlight for the general manager was the farewell to Maximilian Levy. The 35-year-old, a nine-time winner at SixDay, rode his farewell lap of honor on Saturday to a standing ovation. “The farewell was very emotional for me. But I was also impressed by the strong atmosphere in the velodrome already on Friday,” Miltovics continued.

How things will continue next year is currently still open. “The event this year was a big risk. We are not in the red and can continue to operate. How quickly we will return to a six-day event, I can’t say at the moment, but we are looking for solutions. The potential in Berlin is there,” said Valts Miltovics, who will be holding initial talks on the subject with politicians, industry and other partners in the coming weeks.

Victory in the 110th Berlin Six-Day Race went to two-time world champions Roger Kluge and Theo Reinhardt from Berlin. With an attack 15 laps before the end, the reigning European champions with 130 points still pushed the Dutch Yoeri Havik/Vincent Hoppezak (124) from the top. The second German pairing of Tim Torn Teutenberg/Moritz Malcharek (Cologne/Berlin) finished third with a lap down and 84 points. For Kluge/Reinhardt, it was their second success together after 2019.

“We didn’t want to wait until the last and let it come down to the final sprint. It was tough in the end, but it was enough. Now we are looking forward to the European Championships in two weeks,” said Roger Kluge, for whom it was the fourth victory in the velodrome after 2011, 2013 and 2019. “We are happy that we could race again in Berlin. But we would like to have Sixdays over six days again. The audience was there and we showed great sport.”

In the women’s race, Marit Raaijmakers/Mylene de Zoete celebrated a start-to-finish victory. The Dutchwomen defended their lead also on the last day and set themselves superiorly at the top of the field with 141 points. The Czech team Petra Sevcikova/Katerina Kohoutkova (97) followed with a lap behind in second place. The favored team with Olympic champion Franziska Brauße and Lea Lin Teutenberg finished third (75).

The last sprint of the evening in the men’s event was won by Stefan Bötticher from Chemnitz against Maximilian Dörnbach (Cottbus), thus also cementing his victory in the overall standings. With 147 points, the 2013 World Champion prevailed over Dörnbach (142) and Berlin local hero Robert Förstemann (106). Ten days before the European Championships in Grenchen, Berlin was more than just a good assessment of the situation for Bötticher. “I hope that I am in quite good shape and can help the team in Switzerland. Berlin was training on a very high level – and it always helps to have the audience behind you. The atmosphere was great,” Bötticher said.

The victory in the women’s race and the title of “Sprint Queen” was secured for the first time by Lea Sophie Friedrich (147 points). The seven-time world champion was the more consistent rider over the three days and relegated defending champion Emma Hinze to second place (142). Friedrich also gained momentum for the European Championships after retiring from the UCI Track Champions League in the fall due to illness. “I’m feeling good again. And so far it’s going really well. I would be happy if I can also ride in the front in the European Championships. Berlin was incredible – many, many thanks,” said the winner. Third place went to Pauline Grabosch (112) from Cottbus.

Editor: Thomas Juschus