Who will seize the European Champion jersey adorned with golden stars, earning the privilege to wear it for an entire year?
The European Road Cycling Championships 2023 are taking place from 20 to 24 September in the Dutch province of Drenthe, where continental champions will be crowned across all the principal disciplines of the sport.
These include the men's and women's individual road races, men's and women's individual time trials, and the team time trial mixed relay. Notably, the first four events will also be featured at Paris 2024.
Reigning men’s road race champion Fabio Jakobsen of the Netherlands won't defend his title on home soil. However, his compatriot and defending champion in the women’s road race, Lorena Wiebes, is set to compete, aiming to retain her title from Munich.
Meanwhile, the Swiss pair of Stefan Bissegger and Marlen Reusser have both arrived in Drenthe with the intent of defending their individual time trial crowns from 2022.
Continue reading to discover all you need to know about the European Road Cycling Championships 2023.
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2023 European Road Cycling Championships in Drenthe: Routes
The 2023 European Road Cycling Championships will kick off with the individual time trials on Wednesday 20 September.
Both men and women will tackle a 29.5-kilometre course around the city of Emmen. The start line is located at the Wildlands Adventure Zoo, and after a few initial corners through the city, the route becomes relatively straight with minimal corners before returning to Emmen for the finish.
This course is entirely flat and lacks technical complexity, making it ideal for time trial specialists with powerful engines.
The women's road race covers a distance of 131.3 kilometres. It begins with a flat 60-kilometre loop before entering the finishing circuit, where riders will complete five laps.
The most significant challenge on the circuit is the Col du VAM, a 400-metre climb with an average gradient of 5.6%. The finish line is situated atop this ascent for both the women's and men's road races.
As for the men, their route covers a distance of 199.8 kilometres. Following an initial loop like the women, after 113.5 flat kilometres they will enter the finishing circuit, which includes Col du VAM, where they will complete six laps.
European Road Cycling Championships 2023: Riders to watch in men’s elite individual time trial
Defending champion Stefan Bissegger comes straight from the Vuelta a España, and the question is how well he has recovered after the demanding Grand Tour. The 25-year-old Swiss has had a difficult season with his best result being a fourth place on the final time trial of Tour de Suisse.
Stefan Küng is already a two-time European champion in the discipline and will be looking to complete his hattrick in the Netherlands. The Groupama - FDJ rider has shifted his focus more to the road races, but he is still very competitive racing against the clock, as he proved by winning the opening time trial in Tour de Suisse ahead of current time trial world champion Remco Evenepoel.
Belgian individual time trial champion Wout van Aert has just claimed the overall win at the Tour of Britain and is arriving in great condition.
19-year-old Joshua Tarling of Great Britain holds a strong chance, after taking a surprising bronze medal at the World Championships in Glasgow behind Remco Evenpoel and Filippo Ganna, who both decided to skip the event.
European Road Cycling Championships 2023: Riders to watch women’s in elite individual time trial
Marlen Reusser left the 2023 World Championships in tears, as she pulled out mid-race on the individual time trial. The Swiss time trial specialist has won the time trial event at the last two European Championships and is considered as the one to beat.
Road race world champion Lotte Kopecky has had an incredible season taking 14 victories. At the Tour de France Femmes, the Belgian rode herself back onto the overall podium on the final time trial, where she finished third.
The Dutch hope of success will lie in the hands of Riejanne Markus, as Demi Vollering only will be targeting the road race.
Austria's Christina Schweinberger finished third on the time trial at the World Championships in Glasgow and is among the outsiders to take the European title.
European Road Cycling Championships 2023: Riders to watch in men’s elite road race
In the absence of reigning road race champion Fabio Jakobsen, Olav Kooj bids for glory on the Dutch team. The 21-year-old sprinter is without doubt in great form winning the first four stages at the Tour of Britian earlier this month.
His Jumbo-Visma teammate Wout van Aert will be eager to claim a championships jersey after missing out on the rainbow jersey to his rival Mathieu van der Poel. However, the reigning world champion will not be at the start in Drenthe.
Mads Pedersen is the captain of a strong Danish team. The former world champion secured a stage at the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France this season, and he has the experienced Michael Mørkøv to lead him out in the expected sprint finish.
The French hopes are led by the 2016 Milano-San Remo winner and last year's runner-up Arnaud Démare, while the Italians are relying on Filippo Ganna, who skipped the time trial to focus on the road race.
European Road Cycling Championships 2023: Riders to watch in women’s elite road race
Lorena Wiebes will line up as defending champion and the big favourite on a star-studded Dutch team. Teammate and Tour de France Femmes overall winner Demi Vollering has struggled with sickness following the Tour de Romandie, which made her skip the time trial, but if she recovers in time, the SD Worx rider can add another prestigious victory to an outstanding season.
Lotte Kopecky got the better of the Dutch at the World Championships in Glasgow, but it will not be easy for the two-time Tour of Flanders winner to deny Wiebes another European title.
Italy’s Elisa Balsamo arrives with a fresh stage win from the Simac Ladies Tour beating Wiebes in a sprint. The 2021 world champion has the speed to challenge the best if she is positioned correct for the potential sprint finish.
European Road Cycling Championships 2023: Full schedule
All times are in local Central European Time (CET).
Wednesday 20 September
09:00-10:10 Junior women's individual time trial
10:25-11:45 Junior men's individual time trial
12:00-12:45 U23 women's individual time trial
1.05pm-2.10pm U23 men's individual time trial
2.30pm-3.50pm Elite women's individual time trial
4.15pm-5.45pm Elite men's individual time trial
Thursday 21 September
12.45-14.25 Junior mixed team relay
3.30pm-5.10pm Elite mixed team relay
Friday 22 September
09.30-12.45 U23 men's road race
2.30pm-5.10pm U23 women's road race
Saturday 23 September
09:00-11:45 Junior men's road race
1.45pm - 5.00pm Elite women's road race
Sunday 24 September
09:00-11:15 Junior women's road race
12.15-17.00 Elite men's road race
European Road Cycling Championships 2023: How to watch
Here is a list of the official broadcast partners across different territories. You can also find the full list of broadcast partners here.
Belgium - VRT and Tipik
France - L’Equipe TV
Italy - Rai Sport
Netherlands - NPO1
Norway - NRK1
Pan Europe - Eurosport 1
Poland - TVP Sport
Slovakia - RTV
Switzerland - RSI La 2
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