A good European cycling championship for Belgium

The championships lasted five days and started off excellently for Belgium, perhaps in part because they were on home turf. The races took place in and around Hasselt, in our very own province of Limburg. 

Defending U23 time trial champion Alec Segaert delivered Belgium its first gold medal of the series – his third European medal in a row. In fact, he even put down a faster time than the elite rider who took gold just a few hours later. Segaert averaged a shattering 53,5 km/h over the 31-kilometre course. 

After this feat, all eyes were on Olympic road champion Lotte Kopecky for the women’s elite time trial. She was going for the podium, but ended up decimating silver medallist Ellen van Dijk, clocking in a whopping 43 seconds faster. 

Let’s not forget that there was another time trial before the U23 though: Jasper Schoofs took a silver medal in the very first event of the day. In fact, he was just 7 seconds behind the gold medallist. 

Belgium’s fourth medal came the next day, with bronze in the mixed team relay. 

Last but not least was the elite men’s road race. National coach Sven Vanthourenhout gambled and sent Jasper ‘De vlam van Ham’ Philipsen ánd Tim Merlier to the races, both sprinters. His gamble paid off and Merlier can now proudly call himself the European road champion. 

Congratulations to all Belgian cyclists who competed in Limburg!