European Road Championships 2023: route, favorites, how to watch

Although the cycling season is practically over after La Vuelta a España, with the change of dates of the World Championship, the European Championships that will be held in the Dutch province of Drente on September 23 and 24 offer a good alternative to finish off the year thanks to an interesting participation.

The European Road Championships 2023 puts the last jersey of the season in contention

The change of the World Cycling Championships to August has left almost all of us a bit disoriented after the celebration of La Vuelta. Although there are still the Italian classics at the end of the season and, of course, the last monument, Il Lombardia, the feeling is as if all the fish is already sold.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Apart from the fact that the Italian classics will have the usual luxury participation, generally tough races in which the top riders burn their last bullets, the European Championships will offer us a good opportunity to enjoy the other type of classics, the spring classics.

2023 European Road Championships Route

The venue chosen for the 2023 European Championship is the Dutch province of Drente, which, as is the case with most of the geography of the Netherlands, has a practically flat profile, with only a few small hills.

In the case of the men's race, it will start in the city of Assen, better known for its motorcycling connotations, as its circuit is one of the most iconic in the world, than for its cycling ones. The riders will face a route around the region that will culminate in 6 laps of a 13.7 km circuit with the well-known Col de VAM as the only difficulty, a short and steep climb that will be responsible for making the selection, especially with the finish line at the top. In total the cyclists have to complete 199.8 km.

For their part, the women will face a 129.6 km course, in their case, starting in the city of Meppel and a shorter route than that of the men to reach the circuit of the Col de VAM, which, in their case, they will have to complete 5 laps.

Favorites to win the 2023 European Road Championships

Despite being a championship that does not quite fit in among the professional road competitions, this year's participation has raised its level compared to what has become customary, highlighting, undoubtedly, the very powerful Belgian team with Wout van Aert as leader, who comes to this European Championship after winning the Tour of Britain. Apart from Van Aert, practically every rider in the Belgian squad is a potential winner with names like Arnaud de Lie, Tim De Clercq, Yves Lampaert, Jasper Stuyven or Edward Theuns.

Denmark is expected to be the team to beat, with the always competitive Mads Pedersen as the main pillar, accompanied by men like Andreas Kron after his good performance in La Vuelta, Mathias Norsgaard or Mikkel Bjerg.

It is curious that the locals have not fielded as strong a squad as they could. With the absence of Mathieu van der Poel, despite his victorious return to competition a few days ago, the Dutch will leave their chances in the hands of a veteran Bauke Mollema and riders like Mike Teunissen, Nils Eekhoff or Marijn van der Berg who has consistently been among the first places in the mass finishes of La Vuelta.

France will rely on what Christophe Laporte or Benoit Cosnefroy can offer, as will Italy, which will leave its options in the hands of the good form shown by Filippo Ganna during the recent Vuelta a España, although, in his case, men like Trentin or Cattaneo could also be an asset.

For its part, the Spanish team will be captained by Iván García Cortina and Xabier Mikel Azparren who will be supported by names such as David González, Fernando Barceló, Imanol Erviti, Jon Barrenetxea, Victor de la Parte and Jesús Ezquerra who will try to do as good as possible.

Meanwhile, among the women, the usual suspects will be the ones competing for the victory in this European Championship with names like Lotte Kopecky, Marlen Reusser, winner of the individual time trial of these Europeans, or an always solvent, regardless of the terrain on which the race runs, Demi Vollering.

How to watch the European Road Championships 2023

Eurosport is the channel that has the exclusive rights to broadcast this European Championship. The women's online race will be broadcasted on Saturday 23rd between 13:45 and 17:00 on Eurosport 1, while the men's race will take place the following day, Sunday 24th, with a broadcast that will also be shown on channel 1 between 12:15 and 17:00.