towards a Franco-Belgian duel for the title of European champion?

It’s not the World Championships, but it’s still an important event. The European Cycling Championships began this Wednesday in Belgium in the province of Limburg, in the northeast of the country, on the border with the Netherlands. And for Sunday’s road race, a Franco-Belgian duel seems to be taking shape and should see both teams play the leading roles.

An important event since 2016 and the Breton edition of Plumelec, which saw Peter Sagan win on the road, these championships were previously reserved for the U23s. Since then, the road race has rather smiled on the Italians, who have won four times in a row between 2018 and 2021. The Blues won once, last year, with Christophe Laporte while Belgium has not yet seen one of its riders raise their arms in the road race.

In Flanders, the French team will do everything to win a new title, with Christophe Laporte, who has just won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, as its leader. But it will have to face formidable competition from its Belgian neighbour on the road. The locals will indeed line up Jasper Philipsen, Tim Declercq, Tim Merlier and Jordi Meeus. An armada for the Euro probably motivated by the fact that the Belgian riders are riding on home soil.

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Opposite, the Blues will present themselves, around the reigning champion Christophe Laporte, with Arnaud Démare, Adrien Petit and Hugo Page. Determined to retain its title, the French team skipped Wednesday’s time trial in order to save all its strength for Sunday’s race.

A race favorable to sprinters or punchers?

Both selections have put in battle order teams capable of responding to different race scenarios. The 220.9 km course is rather cut out for sprinters, but this one is tricky and could suit riders who have punch.

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The race will be held on two separate circuits. The first circuit around Hasselt, the finishing town, offers a 12 km course without major difficulties. The second, 30 km long, between Borgloon and Tongeren, includes several cobbled sections, including Manshoven (1,300 m) and Op de Kriezel (1,550 m), as well as climbs such as the Kolmontberg (800 m at 4.5%) and the Zammelenberg (800 m at 4.3%).

With a height difference of 1,300m, this undemanding course can quickly become a trap race over the kilometers, with the accumulation of efforts. Already a winner on Dutch soil, France would like to do a double whammy with its leader Christophe Laporte. Another ambitious man, Arnaud Démare would like to finally reclaim the title, after finishing second in 2020 and 2022.

On the Belgian side, a sprint finish would be preferable with Jasper Philipsen, winner of Milan-San Remo and 2nd in Paris-Roubaix this season. This European championship is a dress rehearsal for the world championships that will be held in two weeks in Zurich, Switzerland.