Unlike what happened at the recent Montreal World Championships, the road races will open the program of the European Championships in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The continental championship will be inaugurated by the women in the Under 23 category, called to compete over a distance of 88 kilometers made up of four laps of a 22-kilometer circuit.

to follow our live coverage starting at 8:50 AM CLICK HERE

THE ROUTE. The start and finish of the 22.1 km circuit, characterized by an elevation gain of 367 meters, are located in Šenčur; the race features four laps. The road gradually climbs, tackling a short ascent through Olševek towards Tupaliče. After a sharp right turn, a steep climb towards Možjanca begins. The ascent does not end at the top, as the road continues narrowly over undulating terrain that offers no respite. A technically challenging descent leads to the valley station of the Krvavec cable car, followed by a valley section where extremely high speeds are reached. After passing Strmol Castle, just over 7 kilometers remain to complete the lap.

At the start line, 75 athletes representing 24 nations will compete for the European champion's jersey in a race that promises to be fiercely contested and spectacular.

For Italy, the technical commissioner will rely on a quality quartet composed of Eleonora Ciabocco, Gaia Segato and Giada Silo, who were already protagonists last week at the Montreal World Championships, joined by the Friuli-based Chantal Pegolo of Isolmant Premac Vittoria. A balanced team that combines the international experience gained in Canada with the enthusiasm of a group determined to play a leading role on the first day of racing at the continental championship.

The main favorites are essentially the same ones who animated the recent Montreal World Championship. Above all stands the name of Slovak Viktoria Chladonova, the fresh world champion and natural point of reference for the continental race. Among the most credible candidates for top positions are also the Dutch Megan Arens and Nienke Vinke, the Belgians Fleur Moors and Lore De Schepper, the German Justyna Czapla, the Spanish Paula Ostiz, the Norwegian Oda Aune Gissinger, the Polish Urszula Sipko and the Swiss Mara Winter.

Finally, it should be noted that there are two significant absences in the European landscape: those of France and Great Britain, nations traditionally prominent in youth competitions and which will not be present at the start of the women's Under 23 race in Ljubljana.

STARTERS

Netherlands
1 ARENS Megan
2 KNAVEN Fee
3 KNAVEN Mirre
4 REIJNHOUT Rosita
5 VAN DER WOLF Babette
6 VINKE Nienke

Belgium
7 DE SCHEPPER Lore
8 KIEKENS Cleo
9 MOERMAN Tess
10 MOORS Fleur
11 SIEGERS Emma
12 VAN SINAEY Xaydee

Italy
13 CIABOCCO Eleonora
14 PEGOLO Chantal
15 SEGATO Gaia
16 SILO Giada

Slovakia
17 ANDACKÁ Nina
18 CHLADONOVÁ Viktória
19 UNGEROVÁ Sofia

Germany
20 CZAPLA Justyna
21 JÄGER Clara
22 MÄRKL Jule
23 MESSEMER Joëlle Amélie

Spain
24 ALMENA REQUENA Leyre
25 ARANGUREN CARBAYEDA Irati
26 MORENO CAPA Irene
27 OSTIZ TACO Paula
28 SERRANO MANSO Ayala
29 TORRES ARIAS Celia

Norway
30 GISSINGER Oda Aune
31 GJERTSEN Mia

Poland
32 HARTMAN Nadia
33 SIPKO Urszula
34 SZCZESNA Martyna
35 TRACKA Maja
36 WASATY Weronika

Switzerland
37 BÜELER Melanie
38 GAGGIOLI Malu
39 SCHIESS Zoe
40 WINTER Mara

Denmark
41 ANTVORSKOV Silje
42 BERGHOLT Kamma
43 GREVE Alberte
44 KETELSEN Ida Krickau
45 NORRID-MORTENSEN Olympia
46 RESEN Johanne

Czechia
47 HEZINOVA Daniela
48 KVASNIČKOVÁ Eliška

Luxembourg
49 BARTHELS Layla
50 NOTHUM Gwen
51 WENZEL Liv

Greece
52 SARRI Vivian

Slovenia
53 FERLEŽ Zoja
54 GALOF Pija
55 MEHLE Taja
56 PATRU Emilie
57 PUGELJ Špela
58 TRAKONJA Anet

Finland
59 AINTILA Wilma
60 ANTIKAINEN Heidi

Romania
61 BUNEA Wendy
62 GHEORGHE Ana

Bosnia and Herzegovina
63 KUSTURA Karla
64 VIDOVIĆ Nina

Sweden
65 KAGEVI Stina

Israel
66 BEZALEL Tamar
67 SHRIKI Adar

AIN
68 BOR Elizaveta

Türkiye
69 DOGAN Fatmanur

Ukraine
70 PCHELINTSEVA Yuliia
71 USHAKOVA Milana

Portugal
72 BAÍA Emília
73 DIAS Raquel

Albania
74 DOLLAKU Nikol
75 KABETAJ Nelia