With the awarding of the individual time trial titles, the 2025 edition of the Road European Championships officially got underway today in Drôme-Ardèche (France). The competition will continue until Sunday 5 October, concluding with the elite men’s road race.
In the Men's Elite category, Belgium's Remco Evenepoel confirmed his status as favourite with a solid victory. The reigning Olympic champion (Road and Time Trial) and already a three-time world Time Trial champion (the last one just a few days ago in Kigali), Evenepoel covered the course in 28'26". Italy's Filippo Ganna took second place, 43 seconds behind, ahead of Denmark's Niklas Larsen, who finished third, 1 minute and 8 seconds behind.
There was also a clear win in the Women's Elite race, dominated by Switzerland's Marlen Reusser. Multiple European champion and new world champion in Kigali, she won in 33'06‘, with a large lead over Norway's Mie Bjørndal Ottestad (+49’) and the Netherlands' Mischa Bredewold (+51").
In the Men's U23 category, there was a close battle between the top specialists. The title went to Belgium's Jonathan Vervenne, who won the 24 km race between Loriol-sur-Drôme and Étoile-sur-Rhône in 30'27"96 (47.260 km/h). His compatriot Matisse Van Kerckhove took second place, 1.65 seconds behind, while Ireland's Adam Rafferty completed the podium, 6.04 seconds behind.
There was also an impressive performance in the Women's U23 category, dominated by Italy's Federica Venturelli. Bronze medallist at the World Championships in Kigali, she put in a stunning performance in 34'17‘ (average speed of 42 km/h), despite the final climb to Étoile-sur-Rhône. She finished well ahead of defending champion Anniina Ahtosalo of Finland (+48’) and Luca Vierstraete of Belgium (+51").
The morning began with the Junior events. In the Junior Women's race, contested on a shortened 12.2 km course between Allex and Étoile-sur-Rhône, victory went to Spain's Paula Ostiz, world Time Trial champion in Kigali last week. She won in 18'38‘ (average speed of 39.280 km/h), ahead of Germany's Magdalena Leis (+2’) and Norway's Oda Aune Gissinger, already a bronze medallist at the World Championships, who finished third, 10" behind.
All other races on the day took place on the full 24 km course between Loriol-sur-Drôme and Étoile-sur-Rhône. In the Junior Men's race, Dutchman Michiel Mouris, already European champion in 2024 and recent world champion, won in 30'49". Ireland's Conor Murphy finished second, 5 seconds behind, ahead of Denmark's Julius Løvstrup Birkedal, who was third, 28 seconds behind.
The 2025 Road European Championships will continue tomorrow with the Team Mixed Relay events for the Junior and Elite categories.
