Michiel Mouris has done it again: the Dutchman is once more the European junior time trial champion. The 18-year-old Mouris had to dig very deep to keep Conor Murphy at bay, but after a true thriller, he remained five seconds ahead of the Irishman.
The World Championships may have just concluded, but today marked the start of the next international cycling event with the European Championships in the south of France. The European title battles kicked off with time trials across all categories. After the junior women (won by Paula Ostiz), it was the turn of the junior men.
In the Drôme department, the riders tackled a slightly rolling course of approximately 24.1 kilometers. The elevation gain totaled 176 meters, mainly concentrated in the final section of this not overly technical time trial. With world champion Michiel Mouris on the start line, there was a clear favorite, but the Dutchman could not count on an easy victory given the strong competition.
Urkaregi sets a sharp time
The first sharp finishing time (32'00") came from Davide Frigo. Averaging just under 45 kilometers per hour, the younger brother of pro rider Marco Frigo powered through the course, but he could not enjoy the hot seat for long. The promising Spaniard Eñaut Urkaregi – who signed a contract earlier this week with the development team of Lidl-Trek – proved to be fifteen seconds faster at the finish.
Urkaregi looked to be making a serious bid for at least a medal with his time, but his hopes for the world title were soon crushed by Julius Løvstrup Birkedal. The Dane was the first rider to complete the time trial at an average of 46 kilometers per hour. He was nearly half a minute faster than the Spaniard at the finish, but Birkedal had to nervously wait for the arrival of the real time trial specialists.
Mouris on his way to gold - photo: Cor Vos
Thrilling battle for the title
At the first split, we already had a clearer picture: Conor Murphy and Michiel Mouris posted the fastest interim times, setting up what looked like an Irish-Dutch duel for the European crown. Murphy got off to the faster start, clocking nearly seven seconds quicker than Mouris at the first time check. However, Mouris turned the tables at the final checkpoint: now the gap was only 0.43 seconds in favor of the world champion.
This set the stage for a nerve-wracking finale, in which Mouris ultimately emerged victorious. The margin over Murphy was razor-thin (just five seconds), but it was enough for Mouris to defend his European title. It is also the first European Championship medal for the Netherlands. Murphy took second place, ahead of Birkedal, who still secured the bronze medal.
UEC Road European Championships TT U19| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30:49 | |
| 2 | + 05 | |
| 3 | + 28 | |
| 4 | + 49 | |
| 5 | + 56 | |
| 6 | + 01:08 | |
| 7 | + 01:11 | |
| 8 | + 01:13 | |
| 9 | + 01:20 | |
| 10 | + 01:28 |
