Former track champion Theo Bos is more than satisfied with the recent European Track Cycling Championships in Grenchen. "In terms of speed, this team is at an Olympic level," says Bos in an interview with the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad.

Nine medals - five gold - made it a great event for the Dutchmen. It's an achievement that coach René Wolff can buil on. "I will be a little cautious because the Games are still far away and we also have to wait and see what happens at the World Championships in London. There you will also be up against New Zealand and Australia. But in terms of speed, this team is at an Olympic level, Jeffrey Hoogland by far the fastest," says the rider of MTN Qhubeka.

The five-time world champion on the track and winner of Olympic silver in Athens finds that the sport is changing. "Jeffrey is just like Elis Ligtlee a prehistoric man. A huge powerhouse. I had to base it more on suppleness. I rode 51 × 14, 52 × 14. In the qualification Jeffrey had a bike with 57 on the front ring and 12 on the rear ring. And when he set a track record in Alkmaar, he even did it with 60. It becomes more of a power sport and that takes a very different training," Bos says.