Héctor Álvarez is crowned double European Champion after winning the U23 Time Trial

Héctor Álvarez continues to sign off a spectacular end to the season. The Spanish cyclist has been crowned European Under-23 time trial champion in Šenčur, just five days after also winning the continental title in the road race.

Álvarez completed the 22.1 kilometers in 28:44.70 and won by just 3.06 seconds over Belgian Matisse Van Kerckhove. Norwegian Kasper Haugland completed the podium 19.09 seconds behind.

Álvarez's gold also extends an exceptional day for Spain after, just hours earlier, Alejandra Neira and Benjamín Noval were crowned junior European time trial champions.

Héctor Álvarez dominates the intermediate points and holds on in the final part to become double European Champion

The fight for the title quickly became a duel between Héctor Álvarez and Matisse Van Kerckhove. The Belgian set a very fast first reference, but the Spaniard passed the 8-kilometer checkpoint with 3.79 seconds of advantage.

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Álvarez further increased the gap in the central part of the course. By the time he reached kilometer 16.3, his margin over Van Kerckhove had grown to nearly 13 seconds, a lead that seemed sufficient to face the final stretch with confidence.

However, Van Kerckhove finished much stronger and began to recover seconds, putting the title in jeopardy. Álvarez ultimately managed to preserve 3.06 seconds and stopped the clock at 28:44.70, enough to don his second European champion jersey in less than a week.

The Dutchman Ryan Gal, world champion in the specialty just two weeks ago in Montreal, finished fourth, 20.61 seconds behind. Kasper Haugland took the bronze, 19.09 seconds back.

Second European gold for Héctor Álvarez after his great World Championship

The result extends an extraordinary few weeks for the Spanish cyclist. Álvarez arrived at the European Championship after winning two medals at the World Championship in Montreal, with the bronze in the time trial and the silver in the road race.

In Slovenia, he has taken another step. Last Friday, Héctor Álvarez was crowned European Under-23 road champion after winning solo, and now he completes his participation with another gold in the time trial.

In just a few weeks, therefore, his tally in the World and European Championships stands at four medals in four events: two European golds, one world silver, and one world bronze.

Top 5 Men's Under-23 European Time Trial Championship

1. Héctor Álvarez (Spain) — 28:44.70
2. Matisse Van Kerckhove (Belgium) — +3.06
3. Kasper Haugland (Norway) — +19.09
4. Ryan Gal (Netherlands) — +20.61
5. Nicolas Milesi (Italy) — +24.39

Nienke Vinke wins among the Under-23 women and Paula Ostiz finishes sixth

In the women's Under-23 event, Nienke Vinke was crowned European champion with a time of 32:36.93. The Dutchwoman clearly dominated and finished 36.78 seconds ahead of her compatriot Megan Arens, while Slovak Viktória Chladonová completed the podium 42.11 seconds back.

The best Spanish position was for Paula Ostiz, sixth at 1:27.71 behind Vinke. The Navarrese, who won the junior European time trial titles in 2024 and 2025, is making her debut in the Under-23 category this season.

1. Nienke Vinke (Netherlands) — 32:36.93
2. Megan Arens (Netherlands) — +36.78
3. Viktória Chladonová (Slovakia) — +42.11
4. Justyna Czapla (Germany) — +51.66
5. Emma Siegers (Belgium) — +1:23.82
6. Paula Ostiz (Spain) — +1:27.71