Jente Michels (Belgium) has powered through the rain and deep mud to take the victory in the 2023 European Cyclo-cross Championships U23 Men’s race ahead of teammate and defending champion Emiel Verstrynge. France’s Rémi Lelandais was third.
After all racing was delayed to Sunday because of storms, the ultra-treacherous, rainsoaked course at Pont-Château made bikehandling and racecraft vital. The difficult conditions saw multiple crashes as riders skidded on the muddy, rutted course, with numerous abandons.
After early domination by the French on the 7-lap course, by the end of the third Michels emerged ahead of compatriot Emiel Verstrynge, with another Belgian, Ward Huybs, leading ahead of a shattered pack.
Results
-
Giro d'Italia Women stage 3 LIVE: The breakaway is caught as the race enters the hilly final 25km
A step up in difficulty as the peloton race along a 156km route from Bibione to Buja in Friuli -
New Italian heroes, Visma-Lease a Bike merch, and Vingegaard's emotions – Maybe not a vintage GC edition, but here's what made this Giro d'Italia special
Stephen Farrand reflects on covering this year's Giro d'Italia on the ground -
A warning to Pogačar and Vingegaard? Paul Seixas claims several Strava KOMs on Col du Tourmalet during recon of Tour de France mountain stage
French super talent heads straight from altitude camp to Pyrenees exploration ahead of next race at Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on Sunday -
By winning the Giro d'Italia, Jonas Vingegaard has had his strongest Tour de France preparation yet – but we still have no idea how he'll compare with Tadej Pogačar
All the signs say that Jonas Vingegaard will head to the Tour strong and confident, perhaps more so than ever before. But does that mean an all-out battle with Pogacar is coming?
