With the presentation of the six time trial titles, the 2024 edition of the Road European Championships opened today in Hasselt, in the province of Limburg (Belgium), and will conclude on Sunday 15 September with the Men's Elite Road race.
All the races started from the brand new Heusden-Zolder velodrome, which will host the European Elite Track Cycling Championships from 12 to 16 February 2025, and the day opened with the race for the Junior Women, won by Paula Ostiz.
The Spaniard covered the 13.3 kilometres in 17'52‘’ at an average speed of 44.650 km/h, 1‘’ ahead of Fee Knaven (Netherlands) in second place with a time of 17'53‘’ and Viktoria Chlodonova (Slovakia) who finished in 18'03‘’.
In the Men's race, success went to Michiel Mouris (Netherlands) who finished the event (31.3km) in 37'08‘ at a speed of 50.560km/h, 7’ ahead of Jasper Schoofs (Belgium) and 23’ ahead of Paul Fietzke (Germany).
Anniina Ahtosalo (Finland) literally dominated the Women's Under 23 race, beating world champion Antonia Niedermaier (Germany) by 29‘’ and bronze medallist Marie Schreiber (Luxembourg) by 32‘’.
Confirmation in the Men's Under 23 category came from reigning champion Alec Segaert (Belgium), who climbed to the top step of the podium for the third time in succession. Behind the Belgian, who also won the Junior title in 2021, was Sweden's Jacob Soderqvist second at 30‘’ and Dutchman Wessel Mouris third at 34‘’.
Local star Lotte Kopecky won her first Time Trial title. The Belgian with multiple titles and reigning World Road champion was unchallenged and clocked 39'00‘ (average speed 48.140 km/h), ahead of former European and World Champion Ellen Van Dijk (Netherlands) in second place at 43’ and Austrian Christina Schweinberger, also third last year, at 44’.
The Men's title went to Edoardo Affini. The Italian put in a fine display of strength, leaving one of the big favourites, Switzerland's Stefan Küng, second at 9‘’ and another Italian, Mattia Cattaneo, who won the bronze medal at 19‘’.
The 2024 Road European Championships continue tomorrow with the two Team Mixed Relay races, for the Elite and Juniors.
