European Cycling Championships Expect Evenepoel and Ganna at Start, Hope for Pogacar and Vingegaard

The seventeenth stage from Bollène to Valence took place in the Ardèche and Drôme regions. These regions will also host the European Road Cycling Championships in early October. The (challenging) course was recently unveiled, and meanwhile, the organizers are pleased to announce the first participants. “Filippo Ganna is definitely coming, and before his withdrawal from the Tour de France, it was also planned that Remco Evenepoel would participate,” Guillaume Delpech told WielerFlits/CyclingFlash.

Delpech is the chairman of the organizing committee, which also runs the Faun-Ardèche Classic and the Faun-Drôme Classic. These two races almost always take place simultaneously with the Flemish Opening Weekend (Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne) and are essentially considered the opening weekend for the hill classics specialists. This year, the races were won by Romain Grégoire and Juan Ayuso respectively. The upcoming course is also tailored to the better climbers. Delpech is hoping for a strong field of participants.

Little competition
“It’s the first time that the European Championships do not conflict with the Vuelta a España or the races in Canada (GP de Québec and GP de Montréal, ed.). We are very hopeful that several big names will travel to the European Championships so we get thrilling races. That week, this is the only event where the strongest riders face a course tailored for them. Before his withdrawal from the Tour, the Belgian national coach said Remco Evenepoel would participate in both the time trial and the road race. Filippo Ganna has, in any case, confirmed his participation in the time trial.”

Guillaume Delpech (right) with French national coach Thomas Voeckler - photo: Yves Perret/YP Medias

“Ganna has already said that the European Championships are one of his goals at the end of the season,” the organizer continues. “When you have such top riders at the start, that might also attract other big names. On the women’s side, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot will definitely start, and maybe also Lotte Kopecky. We are also hoping for Demi Vollering and more high-caliber riders. Do we hope to see Mathieu van der Poel? I think the course is too tough for him. But if he wanted to, we would love to have him at the start. Who wouldn’t?”

Will we see Mathieu van der Poel at the start?
According to Delpech, MVDP is climbing increasingly better. “And France would welcome him with open arms. But I think it will be difficult. We also know he’s targeting the mountain biking World Championships in mid-September. Whether that affects his road race participations, I can’t say yet. So I don’t want to raise false hopes among the fans. Although, of course, every organizer would love to have Mathieu at the start. We hope for Jonas Vingegaard, who already won the Faun-Drôme Classic in 2023. And why not the current yellow jersey wearer Tadej Pogačar?”

Delpech mainly hopes that the Ardèche and Drôme regions can help strengthen the status of the European Championships. “In recent years, this championship has constantly shifted dates on the calendar. That’s not good. The event still needs to find its place. This is unclear to the general public. On the other hand, it’s a beautiful, recognizable jersey. Tim Merlier currently wears the jersey with much success. Due to injuries, his predecessor Christophe Laporte had less success. With our atypical course, we hope to elevate the European Championships to the next level.”

Tim Merlier won twice in the Tour de France - photo: Cor Vos