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The UEC Road European Championships will reach their climax this weekend with the road races, the crown jewels of the event. Both the women’s race on Saturday and the men’s race on Sunday will crown new continental champions, as the hilly profiles all but rule out the sprinters. This means that the current wearers of the star-spangled jersey, Lorena Wiebes (1200) and Tim Merlier (1000), will not be able to defend their titles earned last year in Hasselt.

 
Women’s race: route and favorites

The women’s race covers 116 km with 1,600 meters of elevation gain. The climb to Saint Romain de Lerps (7 km at 7.2%), which tops out 38 km from the finish, could be a good launchpad for attacks. However, with two more ascents of the Val D’Enfer (1.5 km at 10%) still to come, it is likely that the big favorites will wait to unleash their decisive moves there.

Demi Vollering (1200), Elisa Longo Borghini (1200), Katarzyna Niewiadoma (1000), Marlen Reusser (1000), Juliette Labous (1000), Elise Chabbey (1000), Anna van der Breggen (800), Liane Lippert (1000), Mavi García (800), Riejanne Markus (800), and Noemi Rüegg (800) are among the main contenders.

 
Men’s race: route and favorites

The men’s race stretches over 202 km with 3,400 meters of climbing throughout the day. Riders will face three ascents of Saint Romain de Lerps (7 km at 7.2%) and four climbs of the Val D’Enfer (1.5 km at 10%), which will shape the outcome of the race.

Everything suggests we are in for another showdown between Tadej Pogačar (1200) and Remco Evenepoel (1200), and anything other than a victory by one of these two would be considered an upset. Jonas Vingegaard (1200), João Almeida (1200), Mads Pedersen (1200), Juan Ayuso (1200), Mattias Skjelmose (800), Romain Grégoire (800), Marc Hirschi (600), Mathias Vacek (600), Alberto Bettiol (400), and Toms Skujins (200) are also among the riders who could deliver a strong performance.

 
Photo: © UEC Road European Championships / ALÉ Cycling