In a few days the 2016 edition of the Road European Championships will be raced in Plumelec – Morbihan – Britanny (France) from 14 to 18 September 2016. During this five days competition in a unique context, the continental titles for the Road and Time-Trial races will be awarded in the Juniors, Under 23 and Elite men’s and women’s categories with the first title of professional European champion up for grabs.
This unique edition will go down in the history of cycling with an exceptional level of participation. At the close of registration, 848 athletes were registered (the official confirmation of those registered will be on 13 September 2016), from 41 countries which is a great success in terms of participation. For five days, Brittany will be the undisputed capital of cycling especially following the agreement signed with the EBU (European Broadcasting Union), that will provide TV coverage of the competition in approximately 60 countries giving exceptional media coverage of these Championships.
David Lappartient, President of the Union Européenne de Cyclisme: «These European Championships are a great innovation with the first Road European Championships for professional riders and during the Olympic year. Everything has not been easy, we have had to deal with some difficulties after the understandable cancellation of the events scheduled in Monaco and Nice. Brittany and Morbihan will host the European Championships on the select circuit in Plumelec, with the famous ‘Côte du Cadoudal’, whose summit will be the strategic point of this spectacular circuit. I would like to thank above all Messrs Stéphane Hamon, Mayor of Plumelec, François Goulard, President of the Morbihan Department Council, Jean-Yves Le Drian, President of the Brittany region and the French State. »
THE COMPETITION LINE UP
The Men’s Elite race is highly anticipated. Among those registered (which will be officially confirmed the day before the race), some names stand out especially the 4 last World Champions who will be in the line up in Plumelec: Peter Sagan (Slovakia), the current World Champion, Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland), Rui Costa (Portugal) and Philippe Gilbert (Belgium). All eyes will also be on Fabio Aru, winner of the Vuelta in 2015 as well as the talented riders, Tony Gallopin and Julian Alaphilippe. Lastly, one of the most eagerly awaited teams will be the Spanish team with the 2008 Beijing Olympic Champion, Samuel Sanchez, and the winner of the Road race at the 2015 Baku European Games, Luis Leon Sanchez.
In the Women’s events, the first three riders from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games are registered: Anna Van der Breggen (Netherlands), Emma Johansson (Sweden) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy), and the multiple Champion, Marianne Vos (Netherlands) as well as the 2015 Under 23 European Champion, Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Poland). In the Juniors, one of the men to beat will undoubtedly be the current World Champion Felix Gall (Austria). The Espoirs Men’s race also promises to be exciting with the recent winner of the Tour de l’Avenir, David Gaudu (France), the runner-up, Edward Ravasi (Italy), and Tao Gheoghegan Hart (Great Britain).