Benjamín Noval asserts the rainbow jersey and also wins the European time trial

The Spanish cyclist Benjamin Noval was proclaimed continental champion in the men’s junior time trial of the Europeans of road cycling in Ljubliana (Slovenia), which take place from October 2 to 7, with a time of 29:46.98.

Second place went to the Dane Malthe Risbjerg (29:47.01), just three hundredths away, and the third, for the Belgian Vic de Smet (29:54.64). Noval, crowned double junior world champion two weeks earlier in Montreal (Canada), had finished sixteenth in the online event in his category in these Europeans, a race in which he had been his teammate Aitor Martínez who had added a medal for Spain, silver.

The Spanish Benjamín Noval (center), along with the Dane Malthe Risbjerg (left) and the Belgian Vic de Smet (right) on the podium of the European Championships in Lujbjana

Noval’s first place joins Alejandra Neira’s gold in the women’s junior time trial. Furthermore, it is the first time in the history of the Europeans that A Spaniard wins a medal against the clock in the junior men’s category.

All the routes of these Europeans were articulated around a 22.1 kilometer circuit in which the protagonist was the ascent to Mozjanca (2.1 kilometers at 10.2% average slope, with maximums of 15.8%). In the individual time trial events, the course consisted of going around the circuit.

The Asturian started last, dressed in the rainbow jersey. When passing through the first intermediate control, at the end of the climb to Mozjanca, he was already 15 seconds ahead (14:06.85) of the Belgian Vic de Smet (14:21.85), who had started his attempt just before Noval.

Alejandra Neira and Benjamín Noval, winners of the European Championship

From there, the double champion of Spain and double world champion continued on his way. At the second checkpoint, after the descent, the difference had been reduced with the Belgian and the Dane Malthe Risbjergwho took provisional second place, but Noval continued to lead them by around 10 seconds.

The Dane, from less to more, gained nearly eight seconds on De Smet in the last special stage. With that time as a reference, Noval, who arrived last, had to make an effort at the finish to save the gold medal against Risbjergand was able to maintain its distance for just three hundredths of a second.

This Wednesday they dispute all time trial categories, from junior to elite, both men and women, to conclude with the Europeans.