Junior Road Race
The European Road Championships continued today with the Junior and U23 road race categories. The junior riders tackled 5 laps, making a total of 67.7km and 1250m of elevation gain on a circuit course around Trento, featuring the Povo ascent. After a flat first 2km, the uphill section towards the Povo climb began, followed by a descent and a final flat 4 km stretch to the finish line in the city centre of Trento. On the final lap, a 15-rider strong chasing group tried to bridge the gap to the five leaders, who were eventually able to fight it out for the win. German rider Linda Riedmann was the strongest and won the Junior title ahead of Italian Eleonora Ciabocco and Elgantine Rayer of France.
U23 Road Race
The U23 riders took on the same course, yet had to contest 6 laps of the circuit, creating a total of 80.8km and 1500 m elevation gain, a course that after six laps would sting the riders’ legs. After a crash, the field split which saw several riders dropped. Many attacks ensued until a soloist broke free, with a group of 19 riders in pursuit. After the lone leader was caught, more attacks followed, led by the French and Italian teams, which left other riders in their wake. When Evita Muzic attacked in the final kilometres only Silvia Zanardi und Kata Blanca Vas were able to follow and in the end Zanardi of Italy outsprinted her two competitors to take the gold ahead of Blanka Vas of Hungary and Evita Muzic of France.
