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Last year, Mischa Bredewold (800) and Christophe Laporte (600) were crowned European road champions at the continental championships held at the famous Vam Berg, in the Netherlands. As a result, they have worn the prestigious European champion's jersey in all road races they participated in throughout the year. Now, one year later, the Belgian city of Limburg will see who the successors of Bredewold and Laporte will be.

Courses

The women’s race covers a long route of 161 kilometers with less than 900 meters of elevation gain, making it a great opportunity for sprinters to claim the continental title.

The same goes for the men's race, which shares much of the course with the women's race but totals 222 kilometers and 1,200 meters of elevation. Both races feature cobbled sections and a few climbs in the central part of the course, but these shouldn’t prevent two sprint finishes.

Women’s race favorites

Lorena Wiebes (1200), Elisa Balsamo (1000), Chiara Consonni (800), Emma Norsgaard (400), Marta Lach (600), Lotta Henttala (200), and Daria Pikulik (200) are some of the top sprinters on the start list. Other contenders who will need a non-sprint finish to win include Liane Lippert (1000), Elise Chabbey (1000), Riejanne Markus (800), Kata Blanka Vas (600), Christina Schweinberger (600), or Mischa Bredewold(800) herself.

Men’s race favorites

Jasper Philipsen (1200), Mads Pedersen (1200), Jonathan Milan (1000), Olav Kooij (1000), Tim Merlier (1000), Alexander Kristoff (800), Mathieu Van der Poel (600), Jordi Meeus (600), Danny Van Poppel (600), Arnaud Démare (400), and Pavel Bittner (200) are some of the top contenders for the European men’s title, which Christophe Laporte (600) will try to defend.

Photo: © Union Européenne de Cyclisme