The 2016 edition of the MTB European Championships that took place in the magnificent setting of Huskvarna (Sweden), culminated in a win by the double Olympic champion, Julien Absalon in the Men’s Elite Cross Country event.
The small Swedish town twinned with Jönköping was the off road capital for four days as confirmed by the statistics from the continental competition: 298 riders (200 men and 98 women), 27 countries represented with 9 titles up for grabs.
The success of the 2016 European Championships is the result of many factors and thanks to the passion and capability of the organising committee helped to make this event even more spectacular.
The circuit was particularly difficult in technical terms and drew thousands of fans (25,000 in four days, 10,000 in one day on the Sunday) who could easily access the entire circuit to enjoy this unique event.
At the end of this four-day competition, the President of the Union Européenne de Cyclisme, David Lappartient, said: «We have witnessed one of the best editions of the MTB European Championships. We have great belief in Mountain Biking and these four days of races have been the best publicity for this discipline. This is thanks to the excellent work of the organising committee comprising IK Hakarpspojkarna, IF Hallby SOK, La Lepre Stanca and Jönköpings CK, who have all ensured that the event was organised to the highest standard with the support of the Swedish Cycling Federation. With the agreement between the UEC and EBU (Eurovision Broadcasting Union), that broadcast footage of the 2016 European Championships, the event received exceptional media coverage. This is a good indication that we can look to the future with confidence and great ambition. »
The races
Technically speaking, the level of this edition was very high. The Elite Cross Country races were dominated by the favourites of the last edition. In the men’s events the Frenchman Julien Absalon, gold medallist at the Athens OG in 2004 and Beijing in 2008, also winner of five World Championships, proved his title as European Champion with a showdown that he dominated right from the start. His opponents were left to fight for the remaining places on the podium, which were won by the Swiss, Fabian Giger, second, and in third Ondrej Cink from the Czech Republic.
In the women’s race it was the Swiss rider Jolanda Neff who proved to be the main contender and a year after her success in Alpago (Italy), once again she was crowned European Champion. Behind her came the triple European Champion the Danish rider, Annika Langvald and the German, Sabine Spitz.
The battle between the Under 23s was thrilling with two French riders coming first and second, Victor Koretzky and Titouan Carod, and the Swiss rider Marcel Guerrini in third place. Sina Frei (Switzerland) rode to victory in the Women’s Under 23s ahead of the youngest rider Jenny Rissveds (Sweden) and Evie Richards (Great Britain).
In the Juniors, victories by Thomas Bonnet (France) and Sophie Wright (Great Britain and in the Elimination the titles were won by the Swede Emil Linde and the Ukraine rider Irinya Popova. The German team made up of Georg Egger, Niklas Schehl, Sabine Spitz and Ben Zwiehoff won the title in the Team Relay in front of the Swiss (Guerrini, Alin, Neff and Forster) and the Czech Republic (Vastl, Holec, Skarnitzlova and Cink).
