LIVE CROSS-CROSS EC. Junior women kick off a packed cross day, does Belgium immediately take second medal? | European Cyclocross Championships

There doesn’t seem to be a size on it Célia Gery – the French top favorite. She soon took off solo. She is now far ahead. Appear in the background Cat Ferguson and Viktoria Chladanova to compete for the remaining medals. Shanyl De Schoesitter is fourth, but is already more than twenty seconds behind the duo.

So we’ll start right away with the junior women. Including three Belgians: Shanyl De Schoesitter, Alexe De Raedemaeker and Sanne Laurijssen. The Schoesitter is Belgium’s spearhead and should be able to compete for medals.

• 9am: European Junior Women’s Championships
• 10am: European Junior Men’s Championships
• 11am: European Championships women’s promises
• 12:50 PM: European Championships for men’s promises
• 2 p.m.: European Women’s Elite Championships
• 3:10 PM: European Men’s Elite Championships

The Belgians still won a bronze medal in the team relay. In the final lap, Witse Meeussen saved the furniture by advancing from fifth to third place. Only five teams took part in this team relay.

And so Belgium won its first medal, after Yorben Lauryssen, Naud De Clerq, Xaydee Van Sinaey, Shanyl De Shoesitter and Sanne Cant were hanging by the tail for five rounds. “I saw a Czech and an Italian driving in front of me, I didn’t know those men,” says Meeussen. “I had the feeling that it would still work. And I was also lucky that the Italian made a mistake and missed a corner.” (MG)

The organization of the European Cyclo-cross Championships intervenes due to the announced severe weather in the west of France. All competitions scheduled for Saturday (European Championships for junior women and elite and men’s promises) will be moved to Sunday after consultation with and on the orders of the prefecture. This afternoon’s mixed relay will continue as usual.

Earlier today, national coach Sven Vanthourenhout said that the stormy weather could potentially have an impact on Saturday’s matches.

Thibau Nys impressed on Wednesday at the Koppenberg. Not too big of a surprise for the national coach. “He didn’t really surprise me on the Koppenberg, but we shouldn’t take his performance for granted. He has come to an age where he is now gradually showing those things. He simply has the legs to do this.”

Despite Nys’s fantastic performance, Lars van der Haar is the top favorite for many. Also for Vanthourenhout. “I heard that he rode purely for second place on the Koppenberg. That makes him even more of a favorite. He was able to save himself, that is an advantage. But Thibau and Eli are ready to compete for the title. We have enough quality at the start to make it difficult for Lars.”

The Belgian delegation already spent the night last night Pontchâteau. So far they have not been much affected by the weather conditions. There is no major influence on the course for the time being, says Vanthourenhout.

“The course is not in bad shape and the wind is not too bad for the time being. There has only been some tinkering in the training and reconnaissance program. All competitions will go ahead as planned, but the organization is communicating well for the time being. They are still giving a lot tonight. a lot of rain, which could have consequences for Saturday. But I don’t see many problems on Sunday.”

National coach Sven Vanthourenhout and all the selected players have now reached Pontchâteau safely. Tomorrow the course will be opened from 2 p.m. for a first exploration. At 3:15 PM there will be the Mixed Team Relay, in which Belgium will count on Sanne Cant, Xaydée Van Sinaey, Shanyl De Schoesitter (women) and Witse Meeussen, Yorben Lauryssen and Naud De Clercq (men). Defending champions the Netherlands pulled out. (JDK)

Autumn storm Ciarán hit the coasts of Brittany and the Loire Atlantique heavily on Wednesday evening and night, causing considerable damage. Fortunately, the Coët-Roz site in Pontchâteau, which is located a bit more inland and will serve as the setting for the European Cyclo-Cross Championships next weekend, was largely spared. The firmly anchored tents and the more than 2,000 posts and 6.5 kilometers of nets to mark the course held up nicely.

Now that Ciarán has finished, the rush for European medals can begin. “The program remains unchanged, all matches will take place on the originally planned dates and times,” Bernard Clouet, secretary of the local organizing committee, confirms to us.

A new storm is predicted for Saturday, with maximum wind speeds of up to 85 km/h. But that’s small compared to Ciarán, which at its peak accelerated to an average of 130 km/h, with peaks of up to 150 km/h. “We are prepared for everything,” said chairman Hervé Faucheux. “We keep a B and even a C plan in reserve, in case it proves necessary.” (JDK)