European Cycling Championships 2023: Niedermaier and Kunz win first German medals

Both were out on the 20.6-kilometre course in Emmen. Although the course proved to be completely flat, it was not without its difficulties: "The wind was brutal today, especially for a rider as light as me, it was difficult to hold the line," explained Niedermaier, who weighed just 50kg and finished almost a minute behind the new European champion Zoe Backstedt from Wales. The daughter of former professional Magnus Backstedt is 18 years old and therefore significantly younger than the 20-year-old Niedermaier, who is also still in the U23 age group. Both are team-mates at Canyon//SRAM.

The second German starter was Linda Riedmann (Jumbo-Visma), also 20 years old, who finished 24th, 3:18 minutes behind Backstedt.

European Cycling Championships 2023: Results individual time trial U23 women

1. Zoe Backstedt (Great Britain) 24:25
2. Antonia Niedermaier (Germany) +0:58
3. Anniina Ahtosalo (Finland) +1:34
4. Nora Jencusova (Slovakia) +1:36
5. Wilma Aintila (Finland) +1:38
6. Julie De Wilde (Belgium) +1:41
7. Eglantine Rayer (France) +1:57
8. Maud Rijnbeek (Netherlands) +2:00
9. Cedrine Kerbaol (France) +2:02
10. Gaia Masetti (Italy) +2:06

>> The German squad for the European Cycling Championships in Drenthe

U23 men miss top 10

The German U23 men Tim Torn Teutenberg (Leopard TOGT Pro Cycling) and Tobias Buck-Gramcko (rad-net Oßwald) did not make it into the top 10, but that was not to be expected. The duo ultimately finished in 15th and 16th place, 1:25 and 1:27 minutes behind the old and new European champions. That is Alec Segaert from Belgium. The 20-year-old was runner-up in Glasgow a month and a half ago. On the same course as the women, defending champion Segaert was more than half a minute faster than the competition. The other medals went to Denmark to Carl-Frederik Bevort and Gustav Wang.

European Cycling Championships 2023: Results individual time trial U23 men

1. Alec Seagert (Belgium) 22:02
2. Carl-Frederik Bevort (Denmark) +0:38
3. Gustav Wang (Denmark) +0:52
4. Ivan Romeo (Spain) +0:56
5. Aivaras Mikutis (Lithuania) +0:57
6. Raul Garcia (Spain) +0:58
7. Kacper Gieryk (Poland) +1:02
8. Axel van der Tuuk (Netherlands) +1:07
9. Eddy Le Huitouze (France) +1:08
10. Jakob Söderqvist (Sweden) +1:09

But even without the precious metal, the mood in the German camp was fine. "I'm happy with the result, we couldn't have expected more. They put in a solid performance," said U23 national coach Ralf Grabsch. Teutenberg himself was also happy with his result. "I personally had a good day, was able to ride the values I had set myself and am satisfied. The time trial gives me a lot of motivation for the upcoming road race."

>> Overview of all competitions at the 2023 European Cycling Championships

Kunze satisfied, Leidert not

This also applies to Hannah Kunz, who has gained extra motivation for the road race with her bronze medal. "I came here to win a medal and I'm very happy that it worked out. That's what I was missing," said the 18-year-old student (VfR Baumholder 1886) from Rhineland-Palatinate. "I was in the flow right from the start, the course suited me and it was fun. However, you had to grip the handlebars well in the strong crosswinds." Like the U23s, the juniors rode the 20.6-kilometre course around Emmen.

With Judith Friederike Rottmann (RC Victoria Neheim) and Anna Maria Borger (VCS Cologne), the BDR had two more juniors at the start, who finished 22nd and 26th, 2:25 and 2:39 minutes behind. The new European champion is Federica Venturelli from Italy.

European Cycling Championships 2023: Results individual time trial juniors

1. Federica Venturelli (Italy) 26:23
2. Stina Kagevi (Sweden) +0:24
3. Hannah Kunz (Germany) +0:33
4. Tabea Huys (Austria) +0:41
5. Fee Knaven (Netherlands) +0:46
6. Alberte Greve (Denmark) +0:58
7. Zoe van Velzen (Netherlands) +1:14
8. Alice Toniolli (Italy) +1:22
9. Ella Wahlström (Sweden) +1:33
10. Lucy Benezet-Minns (Ireland) +1:55

Meanwhile, Glasgow World Championship bronze medallist Louis Leidert (RSV rad-net) had to make do without a medal. The 18-year-old finished sixth. "My soul is not happy because I would have liked to have finished on the podium," explained Leidert. "I also have to say that I didn't have the best preparation. I was ill a lot after the World Championships. However, things went well in the last two weeks and I had hoped for a bit more today."

However, there would have been little chance of beating the new European champion Albert Philipsen from Denmark anyway. The 17-year-old clearly outpaced the competition. But that is no coincidence. He did not compete in the world championship time trial in Glasgow, but instead became mountain bike world champion and also clearly won the road race.

Ahead of Paul Fiezke (RSV Cottbus), who finished 26th in the time trial in Emmen. Ian Kings, German U19 time trial champion, finished eleventh.

European Cycling Championships 2023: Results individual time trial juniors

1. Albert Philipsen (Denmark) 22:48
2. Jorgen Nordhagen (Norway) +0:47
3. Sente Sentjens (Belgium) +0:49
4. Lars Vanden Heede (Belgium) +1:02
5. Luca Giaimi (Italy) +1:03
6. Louis Leidert (Germany) +1:05
7. Markel Beloki (Spain) +1:11
8. Pavel Sumpik (Czech Republic) +1:12
9. Carl Emil Pedersen (Denmark) +1:14
10. Adam Rafferty (Ireland) +1:15