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Pro Log: Demi Vollering rescues a goat; Thibau Nys and Fem van Empel win European Cyclocross titles
Welcome to the latest edition of Pro Log, where we look at the pro cycling news from the past week. Here’s a rundown of the latest results before we get started:
- UEC Cyclocross European Championships, Team Relay (19.9km), Sat 2nd November: 1st Italy, 40min 50sec; 2nd France, +11sec; 3rd Spain, +14sec.
- UEC Cyclocross European Championships, Junior Women (16.7km), Sun 3rd November: 1st Anja Grossmann, Switzerland, 37min 30sec; 2nd Barbora Bukovská, Czechia, +1sec; 3rd Giorgia Pellizotti, Italy, +1sec.
- UEC Cyclocross European Championships, Junior Men (20km), Sun 3rd November: 1st Mattia Agostinacchio, Italy, 40min 13sec; 2nd Valentin Hofer, Austria, +8sec; 3rd Mats Vanden Eynde, Belgium, +10sec.
- UEC Cyclocross European Championships, U23 Women (20km), Sun 3rd November: 1st Célia Gery, France, 42min 47sec; 2nd Marie Schreiber, Luxembourg, +0sec; 3rd Leonie Bentveld, Netherlands, +4sec.
- UEC Cyclocross European Championships, U23 Men (26.5km), Sun 3rd November: 1st Jente Michels, Belgium, 52min 11sec; 2nd Filippo Agostinacchio, Italy, +3sec; 3rd Aubin Sparfel, France, +12sec.
- UEC Cyclocross European Championships, Elite Women (23.3km), Sun 3rd November: 1st Fem van Empel, Netherlands, 50min 41sec; 2nd Ceylin Alvarado, Netherlands, +0sec; 3rd Lucinda Brand, Netherlands, +7sec.
- UEC Cyclocross European Championships, Elite Men (29.9km), Sun 3rd November: 1st Thibau Nys, Belgium, 57min 46sec; 2nd Felipe Orts, Spain, +3sec; 3rd Eli Iserbyt, Belgium, +9sec.
Titles awarded at European Cyclocross Championships
The European Championships for cyclocross were held this past weekend in Pontevedra, northwestern Spain. Italy won the mixed team relay with a time of 40min 30sec, just ahead of France, Spain and Czechia as the only nations to compete.
Switzerland’s Anja Grossmann and Italy’s Mattia Agostinacchio won in the junior ranks as France’s Célia Gery and Belgium’s Jente Michels took home medals in the U23 events.
The dominating force of Dutch star Fem van Empel struck again in the women’s elite race, where she won a third consecutive title after a sprint against compatriot Ceylin Alvarado as Lucinda Brand completed the podium for a Dutch 1-2-3.
As for the men’s elite race, Belgian prodigy Thibau Nys went clear in the final lap against Spaniard Felipe Orts for victory. Eli Iserbyt of Belgium came home third.
Demi Vollering saves goat
Demi Vollering has had a busy time recently, from announcing her new contract with FDJ-Suez to rescuing a goat from a well. The 27-year-old was hiking while on holiday in Greece when she spotted the stranded animal and jumped down into the hole to save it.
In a video posted to her Instagram account, Vollering said the young goat looked ‘helpless and scared’, but she was able to lift it out unaided and the goat wandered off seemingly unharmed, unaware that it had been rescued by one of the greatest cyclists of a generation.
Biniam Girmay ‘wins’ Saitama Criterium
The tenth edition of the Saitama Criterium, which brings Tour de France stars to the streets of Japan, was won by Biniam Girmay after the field clawed back a late attack from Primož Roglič.
After 61km over a 17-lap circuit, the ‘race’ came down to a sprint between Girmay, Jasper Philipsen and Mark Cavendish in a real who’s who of the sprinters.
It made for an enthralling finale to the race and shame on anyone who dares to suggest that the outcome of the Saitama Criterium is, uh, in any way predetermined…
See you next week.
The post Pro Log: Demi Vollering rescues a goat; Thibau Nys and Fem van Empel win European Cyclocross titles appeared first on Cyclist.