The VAM-Berg hosts the Road European Championships
The VAM-Berg, the world's most famous hill built on a landfill, will be the judge of the UEC Road European Championships IRR, taking place this weekend in the province of Drenthe, in the Netherlands. Both the elite men's and women's races, which will determine the wearers of the star-studded European champion jerseys for the next year, are predominantly flat, but the inclusion of the VAM-Berg in the final circuit adds some pepper to the routes.
Women's race: route and favorites
The women's race starts in Meppel and features an initial flat 60-kilometer stretch before the first ascent of the VAM-Berg (0.4 km at 4.2%). The final circuit is 13 kilometers long, with the finish line located at the top of the hill. Cyclists will need to complete 5 laps of the circuit and tackle 6 ascents of the VAM-Berg, totaling 131 kilometers.
Lotte Kopecky (1200), Elisa Balsamo (1000), Lorena Wiebes (1200), Demi Vollering (1200), Pfeiffer Georgi (600), Marlen Reusser (1000), Cecile Uttrup Ludwig (1000), and Elise Chabbey (1000) are some of the top favorites. The starting list also includes other important cyclists such as Liane Lippert (1000), Juliette Labous (1000), and Katarzyna Niewiadoma (1000), although the route may not suit their climbing abilities.
Men's Race: Route and Favorites
The men's race starts in Assen and also begins with a flat 113-kilometer stretch before entering the final circuit, where the men will complete six laps. The total distance of the elite men's race is 199 km.
Wout Van Aert (1200), Mads Pedersen (1200), Olav Kooij (1000), Filippo Ganna (1000), Christophe Laporte (1000), Arnaud Démare (1000), Arnaud De Lie (400), Ethan Vernon (400), Matteo Trentin (600), Mike Teunissen (600), Alexander Kristoff (800), Soren Waerenskjold (200), Rasmus Tiller (200), or Iván García Cortina (400) are some of the top favorites to wear the star-studded European champion jersey next season.
Photo: © UEC Road European Continental Championships