The European Championship lowers the curtain today with the individual times and with several medal options for Spanish cycling
He Slovenian European Cycling Championships ends today with the dispute of the men’s and women’s time trials of the junior, U23 and elite categories. A very fast finish that presents many questions and that could provide another day of glory for Spanish cycling. The first thing that stands out in the list of cyclists registered in the men’s elite event is the non-presence of the great dominator of the specialty, the Belgian Remco Evenepoelwinner last year, recent world champion and current Olympic champion. The continental silver and bronze of 2025 will not be there either, the Italian Filippo Ganna and the danish Niklas Larsen; which opens options to others.
The men’s ITT will be the last event of the European Championship to be held (4:15 p.m.). 44 cyclists participate and the theoretical favorites start at 4:51 p.m., with Mattia Cattaneo, who will be followed by Iván Romeo, Mikkel Bjerg, Primoz Roglic, Callum Thornley, Stefan Küng and Jakob Söderqvist. The route, 22.1 km, is tough and has several decisive sections, such as the ascent to Mozjanca (2 km elevation, very demanding, at 10.2% on average), followed by another climb: Stefanja Gora (0.9 km at 4.7%), before speeding down to Šencur.
In a feminine key, the Swiss Marlen Reusser, CRI world champion a few days ago, is looking for her fifth continental title, in an event in which neither Paula Blasi nor Mireia Benito will be present.
The first test will be the junior women’s time trial (9:30 a.m.), where Alejandra Neira (18 years old) is the main Spanish hope, in a season in which she has been Spanish CRI champion and world road champion, 9th in the time trial. Next, the phenomenon of Benjamin Noval ((17 years old), champion of Spain and double world champion. Paula Ostiz (11.45h), in his first U23 year and after winning the European Championship as a junior in 2025, he will try to knock on the door of medals. After, Hector Alvarez (19 years old), European road champion and third in the World Championship time trial, faces the CRI (12:35h) without pressure.
