We are still in the midst of a post-World Cup hangover, with the images of Kigali fresh in our memory, yet it is already time to turn the page. From 1st to 5th October the scene moves to France, between Drôme and Ardèche, for the European Championships 2025. An appointment that arrives almost without breath, but which brings with it charm, history and the desire to wear that starred white and blue shirt that has acquired ever more prestige in recent years.
The elite men's and women's races will be the focus of attention, as the World Championships are fueled by a sense of resurgence. Remco over Pogacar, the top women over the outsiders. In all this, France is preparing to offer a stage that will make you rub your hands, thanks to routes that are selective but not impossible and which should therefore be more open.
First the time trials
The European Championships menu will be rich and spread over five days. The time trials start tomorrow, with all categories competing: From the women's juniors to the men's elite. The time trials will be the first test, especially since the French route will offer interesting technical challenges, with undulating sections that won't just favor pure rouleur cyclists and a very tough finish.
In total 14 titles will be awarded Between time trials, road races, and mixed relays, one more than at the World Championships. There will also be a junior mixed relay.
The time trials have a richer field perhaps than ever before. All the top riders are at the start, from Remco Evenepoel fresh from the rainbow jersey, up to Filippo Ganna, passing through Kung and Tarling, Almeida, Armirail… A crazy level.
More open paths
The highlight of the European Championships will obviously be the men's elite event. The course is 202,5 kilometers long and features over 3.300 meters of elevation gain. It's a mixed course, much more balanced than the one in Kigali. A track that combines hardness and smoothness: Short, repeated climbs, typical of the Ardèche landscape. Such a profile might cripple sprinters, but it won't scare climbers away. The profile is very reminiscent of a Liège-Bastogne-Liège race. Or, why not, a Clasica de San Sebastian. The numbers are very, very similar to the classic Basque route. Others, however, believe this route is very reminiscent of the first stages of the last Dauphiné.
The women's race, clearly elite, is not very tough: 116 kilometers and just over 1.500 meters of altitude difference. If you think, in short, about our Elisa Longo Borghini, The challenge could be too wide open. Unlike the men, they will only have to tackle the Val d'Enfer climb twice in the final stages.
In both categories, tactical management will be crucial. There won't be any impossible walls, but the constant alternation of climbs and descents will keep the group on edge. On paper, the deciding factor should be, as we mentioned, the Cote du Val d'Enfer: 1,7 kilometers at an average gradient of 9,3 percent, with a central portion at 14 percent. But be careful of the slight slope between the passes on Cote itself. A moment of uncertainty there could be fatal, especially in the women's race.
A path that fosters courage and aggression, ready to be shaped by those who know how to act at the right time. For this reason, the various national teams will need to be attentive and united, much more so than in Rwanda. The team can really be a key element. A curiosity then. It is true that weather forecasts beyond three days are not very reliable, but it seems that just women might encounter a day of pouring rain. So here is another variable that could prove to be decisive.
Three favorites and many outsiders
When talking about favorites, it is inevitable to look al Tour de France triptych: Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Tadej PogacarThey will be the beacons of the European Championships, ready to renew the challenge that ignited the World Championships and the Tour. Vingegaard will have the stamina and freshness of someone who avoided a long trip and has the legs of a Grand Tour (he won the Vuelta). He certainly won't want to be outdone. Remco said that without mechanical problems in Kigali he would have fought with Pogacar. And Tadej will be ready to defend the leadership with the utmost attention.
Yet the path of Drome and Ardèche could also open the door to different solutions. Riders like Skjelmose, Skujins or Healy have shown that they know how to excel on uneven terrain and tough. They could take advantage of the tight marking of the big three. And then Almeida, Ayuso, Van Baarle, certainly at least one Frenchman who will give more than he has at home... The list is long. And to this list let us add Mads pedersen: it's clear that if the climbers throw it down hard he's completely out of it, but Mads belongs to the group of “mega engines” and at the very least deserves a mention.
And the Azzurri? Italy will present a team that will be a mix of new additions and athletes who were present in Africa. Ulissi, Bettiol, Scaroni… to try and play it out, perhaps with a long-range action, taking advantage of some ambiguous tactical situations. It won't be easy to face opponents of this caliber, but a prestigious finish, which would be a lifesaver, might not be impossible.
