Foto: “Pixabay”
The UEC European Road Cycling Championship started on Wednesday with a junior age group individual race in Italy. In the boys’ competition, Matīss Kaļveršs won the 27th place, while the highest of the two Latvian juniors was Evelīna Ermane-Marčnko, whose 25th place is reported by the Latvian Cycling Federation (LRF).
This year’s UEC European Road Cycling Championship is taking place in the Italian city of Trentino for five days. A total of 12 Latvian athletes have entered the competition. The European Championship is held for junior, U23 and elite group athletes. On the first day of the competition, two sets of medals were distributed in an individual race. Junior girls and junior boys went to the start. Athletes of both categories covered a 22.4-kilometer-long and very fast track without large mountains, but with technical turns and curves.
In the group of junior boys, the only representative of Latvia Matīss Kaļveršs started with number 36. The distance was covered by our cyclist after 28 minutes and 45 seconds on the track. This gave the 27th place in the competition of 52 participants. The average speed of Matīsa on the track is 46.78 kilometers per hour.
The double victory was won by Belgian athletes. First place to Alec Sedger, with a time of 26 minutes and 27 seconds. Sians Uijdebroks, who had silver, lost five seconds to him. Third place for Frenchman Eddie Le Huitose. He was separated from the winner by 40 seconds.
38 athletes started in the group of junior girls. Among them are also – Latvian champion Evelīna – Ermane Marchenko, as well as Kitty Siltumen. Kitty, who also started last year, has more experience in European championships. Both of our girls managed to achieve a better time Evelina Ermane-Marchenko. The student of coach Vilmaras Thomson achieved the 25th best result. She spent 32 minutes and 49 seconds on the track. The average speed for her is 40.4 kilometers per hour.
Meanwhile Kitty Heateen, who was booked for the individual trip only at the last minute after Laura Belohvoščika’s refusal to start due to health problems, reached the 37th result (34 minutes and 32 seconds). The winner was Russian athlete Yelena Ivanchenko, with a time of 29 minutes and 11 seconds. Second place went to German Antonija Niedermeier (+00: 00: 31), while the Dutchman Elisa Uijen finished in the top three (+00: 00: 53). Two Latvian athletes will start in the European Championship on Thursday. In the women’s elite competition, at 11:58 Latvian time, Dana Rožlapa will go on the track. Meanwhile, at 15:37, Roger Petaks will start the solo trip of the men’s U23 group.
–
