2025 European Cycling Championship: dates, routes, favorites, and how to watch

If we haven't had enough with the spectacle we were able to enjoy at the 2025 Kigali World Championships, with barely any time to recover, the 2025 European Cycling Championship arrives, which will take place in the incomparable terrain of the French Central Massif in the regions of Drome and Ardeche with a challenging route that will surely give us new days of good cycling with many of the world's best cyclists fighting for a medal that, for many, will have a taste of revenge after the race in Rwanda.

Dates and Schedule of the 2025 European Cycling Championship

Wednesday, October 1

• 9:30 to 10:38: Junior Women's Individual Time Trial
• 10:45 to 12:34: Junior Men's Individual Time Trial
• 12:00 to 13:13: U23 Women's Individual Time Trial
• 12:45 to 13:58: U23 Men's Individual Time Trial
• 14:20 to 15:30: Elite Women's Individual Time Trial
• 15:45 to 16:52: Elite Men's Individual Time Trial

Thursday, October 2

• 11:00 to 13:36: Junior Mixed Relay Time Trial
• 14:30 to 16:36: Elite Mixed Relay Time Trial

Friday, October 3

• 9:00 to 11:25: U23 Women's Road Race
• 12:40 to 14:23: Junior Women's Road Race
• 15:35 to 18:15: Junior Men's Road Race

Saturday, October 4

• 9:00 to 12:06: U23 Men's Road Race
• 14:00 to 17:00: Elite Women's Road Race

Sunday, October 5

• 11:45 to 17:00: Elite Men's Road Race

Favorites to Win the 2025 European Cycling Championship

If we had a clear favorite at the Kigali World Championships, after the tremendous exhibition provided in Rwanda by Tadej Pogacar, deciding the race where and how he wanted, without anyone having a real chance to challenge him for the gold medal, anything other than another new spectacle from the Slovenian would be a rarity. However, the route of the European Cycling Championship through the regions of Drome and Ardeche, less demanding and more varied than the World Championship, could lead to a less predictable race than in Kigali.

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In addition to this, there will be a greater number of strong rivals, which, combined with the average level of the Slovenian team, could complicate things for Tadej Pogacar if circumstances align against him.

Among these strong rivals, the first one to mention is Jonas Vingegaard, the only one who has been able to get close to the Slovenian when the road steepens uphill. However, many days have passed since the end of La Vuelta, and there is always the question of whether the Danish rider's body has recovered well from the work of these weeks or, as often happens after a big challenge, has already started the descent towards the end of the season.

In any case, the Danish team will also have the card of Mads Pedersen, who in La Vuelta showed that he can handle the medium mountains despite the fact that, a priori, the European Championship route may seem excessively tough for his characteristics.

One rider who is sure to arrive at this race eager to make up for it is Remco Evenepoel, who, despite the frustration of the mechanical problems he suffered on his bike, was unable to respond to Pogacar's attack at the decisive moment, which ultimately decided the race.

With a similar mindset, Juan Ayuso will attend the French event. This time he won't have to endure the torture of Isaac del Toro's pace as it is a European Championship, but instead, he will have to keep an eye on his teammate Joao Almeida, who will surely try to confirm a year of high performance.

2025 European Cycling Championship Route

202.5 kilometers and 3,306 meters of elevation gain are the figures of the tough route that the participants in the 2025 European Cycling Championship will have to face, starting from the town of Privas and heading towards the Rhone Valley, specifically towards the town of Guilherand-Granges, neighboring the city of Valence, which has hosted the Tour de France many times and, obviously in this region, the Critérium du Dauphiné.

A first part in a straight line that will cover the terrain between these two cities, starting with the ascent to Col du Moulin a Vent, 7 kilometers of gradual gradients that are sure to form the breakaway of the day and make the race tough from the beginning. From there, favorable terrain until reaching the finish line for the first time around kilometer 50.

After this, a long circuit will be faced by the peloton of the 2025 European Championship, which will have to complete three laps and includes the ascents to Saint Romain de Lerps, an almost 9-kilometer climb with a demanding first half with gradients exceeding 7%. An ascent that will be linked with the Val d'Efer climb, very tough with its 400 meters at 11.8%, a real wall.

After these three laps, the race will move on to a local circuit that will require another three laps, which, like the previous ones, includes this Val d'Efer climb towards the end of each lap, and adds the Montée de Costebelle climb, which is much gentler but still adds elevation gain.

How to Watch the 2025 European Cycling Championship

Despite being a European Championship, only Eurosport and the HBO Max platform have broadcasting rights.

As usual, they will offer comprehensive coverage of the event, but only for the Elite category events, both time trials and mixed relays, as well as the road races.