With perfect action and great courage, Mischa Bredewold (Netherlands) won the European Elite Women's title today at Col du Vam. The 23-year-old completed the work of her team, who controlled all the attacks from the start of the race and made several attempts to create a selection for the demanding five-lap final on the circuit of the continental event.
The race got down to the nitty-gritty in the final stages with several attacks from the Dutch themselves, the Italians and Marlen Reusser, who won the Time-Trial title on Wednesday.
With around ten kilometres to go, another attack from the Netherlands allowed Mischa
Bredewold to take a slight lead over the leading group, a gap she managed to maintain until the finish line 3" ahead of her compatriot and reigning European champion Lorena Wiebes and her team-mates. Lorena Wiebes and reigning world champion Lotte Kopecky (Belgium), completed the podium.
The day began with the Men's Juniors Road race, won by Slovenian rider Azne Ravbar.
The race consisted of eight laps of the Col du Vam circuit (13.7 kilometres per lap) and during the first laps the Danish team was the most active national team, trying to create a selection on several occasions. The peloton never left room for attacks, with the exception of Andrea Montagner (Italy), Theodor August Clemmensen (Denmark), Erazem Vlajavec (Slovenia), Felix Orn Kristoff (Norway) and Hector Alvarez (Spain).
Once again, the peloton caught up with the breakaway riders with around 25 kilometres to go. The last two laps were covered at a very fast pace and on the final climb, with around 500 metres to go, Azne Ravbar attacked and took a slight lead, enabling him to win the European title by 2" ahead of Matys Grisel (France) and the other Slovenian, Zak Erzen.
Tomorrow, Sunday 24 September, the last two European titles will be awarded at Col du Vam: the Road races for the Junior Women (69 km, start from Drijber at 9.00am) and the Elite Men (199.8 km, start from Assen at 12.15pm).
