After hosting various editions of the Youth Continental Championships (Under 17) over the last few seasons, Graz (Austria) is now geared up for its event – the Junior and Under 23 MTB European Championships that will take place from 26 to 29 July and the Masters event on 28 July (info here).
The small Austrian city, capital of the Styria province, has once again renewed its interest in and commitment to Mountain Biking and this event is being held only two years before the 2020 European Championships (Juniors, Under 23 and Elite).
344 Juniors and Under 23s from 32 countries have registered for this continental event to win the 6 titles on offer: Team Relay and Eliminator, as well as Men’s and Women’s Cross-Country.
Among the favourites are some of the best international riders: the Juniors Mathis Azzaro (France) and Alexandre Balmer (Switzerland), already second last year in the Cross-Country and who is starting out in this category. In the Women’s events, the native, the Austrian 2017 XCO World and European Champion Laura Stigger will be racing against in particular the German Franziska Koch.
The holder of numerous titles, Sina Frei, current Cross-Country World and European Champion will be the leader of the Under 23s Swiss national team who can also rely on the support of Alessandra Keller. The Italians Marika Tovo and Martina Berta will also make the race very interesting.
In the Men’s Under 23 events, all eyes will be on the Norwegian Petter Fagerhaug, Filippo Colombo (Switzerland) and Vlad Dascalu (Romania), whereas the double World and European Champion Daniel Federspiel (Austria) will be the rider to beat in the Eliminator. Also among those taking part is the Italian Luca Braidot in the Team Relay.
Rocco Cattaneo, President of the Union Européenne de Cyclisme: «Cycling in Graz has always been associated with MTB especially for young people.
For many years, the Youth Championships have been a regular fixture on the calendar and the small Austrian city has carefully prepared to host over 300 riders, men and women in the Junior and Under 23 categories as well as the Masters, from over 30 countries, ready to provide the public with high level technical races. For four days, the best young Europeans will battle it out in the six races and fans will also be able to discover the stars of the main international competitions which will held over the next few years.
This enjoyable and interesting major event will be the prelude to the meeting of 2020 when Graz will be hosting the Junior, Under 23 and Elite European Championships.
On behalf of myself and the Union Européenne de Cyclisme Management Board, I would like to thank the Bike Club Stattegg for its co-operation with the UEC for over twenty years and in view of previous experience, is an excellent guarantee for the organisation, as well as the Austrian Cycling Federation, which has always paid great attention to Mountain Biking activities.»
The Elite European Championships will be held in Glasgow (Great Britain) on 7 August.
Info #EuroMTB18 – click here
