Cycling: The European road cycling championships started today in Alkmaar. Three competitions were held at the start. The Dutch were particularly successful. Germany won silver in the mixed relay.
Mixed Relay: Netherlands & Germany in a league of their own
The eagerly awaited mixed relay has concluded the first day of the European Road Bike Championships in Alkmaar. In doing so, the favored Netherlands secure the gold medal. Koen Bouwman, Bauke Mollema, Ramon Sinkeldam, Riejanne Markus, Amy Pieters and Floortje Mackaij were 14 seconds faster than Deutschland Marco Mathis, Jasha Sütterlin, Justin Wolf, Lisa Brennauer, Lisa Klein and Mieke Kröger won silver in a sovereign manner and well ahead of Italy, France and Russia. The mixed competition was held in the form of a relay. The men started first before handing over to the women after the work was done.
Junior women's time trial: home win for the Netherlands
The Dutchwoman won with a time of 30:18 minutes Shirin van Anrooij the first competition of the European Road Championships in Alkmaar. The 17-year-old left the Russian in the 22,4-kilometer time trial Aigul Gareeva by just three seconds behind. Behind there is a slightly larger gap. Bronze went to the Swede, 42 seconds back Wilma Olausson. The only 16-year-old drove as the best German Lucy Mayrhofer to a strong ninth place.
Time trial of the juniors: Piccolo really big
Around noon, the juniors raced over their 22,4-kilometer time trial course in Alkmaar in windy conditions as well. It should be extremely tight on the winding and narrow course. The top 10 ended up within a minute. As a happy but deserved winner, he was allowed to Andrea Piccolo celebrate. With his time of 26:52 minutes he held the two Dutchmen Lars Bowen and Enzo Leijnse in check by 12 and 14 seconds respectively. Best German was ninth Maurice Ballerstedt. Things weren't going so well for Michel Hessman, who fell in a left turn. Apart from painful abrasions, he was only able to finish 15th.
German medal hopes: Ackermann and the Lisas
There are 13 decisions at the European Road Championships in Alkmaar. On winding routes and in windy conditions, the Germans can certainly hope for medals. The time trial competitions will be completed tomorrow. While with the gentlemen Jasha Sutterlin hopes for a place among the top ten, the women go into the race with significantly higher ambitions. Lisa Klein and Lisa Brennauer there are realistic chances of winning a medal both in the time trial and in the road race the next day. However, it should be extremely difficult in a mass sprint against the Dutch women Kirsten Wild and Lorena Wiebes. Hoping for this one Pascal Ackerman. Along with Dylan Groenewegen, he is considered a top favorite for gold. Its advantage: With Andreas Schillinger and Michael Schwarzmann and Rüdiger Selig he can build on his usual sprint train. The junior race could also be interesting, as the Germans will dominate the UCI Nations Cup in 2019. Nicholas Markl should compete for a medal in the U23 class.