Remco Evenepoel is proclaimed European long-distance road champion

Remco Evenepeol was proclaimed European long-distance road champion in a test held this Sunday in Ljubljana (Slovenia), with a tough route of 193.3 kilometers and an average gradient of 2,571 meters. The Belgian beat the Italian Giulio Ciccone in an exciting sprint between the two that was resolved after going to the photo finish. Third place, 59 seconds behind, was also Italian Christian Scaroni. The Spanish Iván Romeo finished fifth.

The race was controlled by the Belgian and French teams, who set a strong pace with 60 kilometers to go, when Juan Ayuso fell away from the peloton. The Spaniards Urko Berrade, Pau Miquel and Romeo did remain in privileged positions.

The championship began to be decided with 36 kilometers to go, when Evenepeol attacked and Ciccone came out on his wheel. The Belgian's acceleration on the climb to the Mozjanca mountain (2.1 kilometers at 10% gradient) was so impetuous that he fell due to a bad line in a curve. Shortly after he was neutralized by the group of the best, among which was Iván Romeo.

The mishap had hardly any repercussions for Remco, which accelerated again four kilometers later. Maneuver and repeated protagonists. Evenepoel and Ciccone escaped again and both appeared alone at the finish line. The Italian barely contributed to the breakaway and reserved his energy for the end. In the last corner he surprised the Belgian, forcing him to make an agonizing effort in the last 50 meters to win the gold medal. A victory (the 80th in his record) by an inch that makes Evenepoel a champion of everything: he has closed the circle of medal conquests in the big events. He has won on the road and time trial in the World Cup, Olympic Games, European Games and the Belgian Championship.

Evenepoel inherits the Europeanp throne from Tadej Pogacar, who in last year's edition beat the Belgian and the Frenchman Paul Seixas. Evenepoel was also second in 2021, an edition won by Sonny Colbrelli.