A very important day for cycling has just come to a close in Plumelec (France) with the awarding of the first titles in history for the time-trial races in the Elite categories (Men and Women).
The challenging circuits that covered a large part of Morbihan, Britanny, from Josselin to Plumelec (24.4 kilometres for the Women and 45.5 kilometres for the Men) highlighted the high calibre of riders on an international level.
For the Men, the first European champion in the history of the Elite category is Jonathan Castroviejo. The Spaniard, a big favourite, didn’t disappoint riding to victory in 58’13” (average of 46.894 km/h) ahead of the Belgian Victor Campenaerts (58’43”) and the Italian Moreno Moser who finished in 58’52”.
For the Women, Ellen van Dijk the Dutch rider won in 36’41” ahead of her compatriot, gold medallist in the Road race in Rio de Janeiro, Anna van der Breggen (36’59”) and the Russian Olga Zabelinskaya (37’04”). After having already won the Time-Trial European title in the Under 23s in 2008 and 2009, Ellen Van Dijk is the first rider to register in this continental event from the Elite category. In the Under 23s, the title was won by the Russian Anastasiia Iakovenko (39’35”), silver medal went to the Byelorussian Kseniya Tuhai (39’45”), and bronze to the German Lisa Klein (39’47”).
Tomorrow on the third day of the European Championships in Plumelec – Morbihan – Brittany (France) the titles for the Road races in the Junior Women’s will be ready for the taking (68.5 km, start at 10am) and the Junior Men’s (123.3 km, start at 1,20pm).
