​2026 European Cycling Championships: Route, schedule and TV coverage

Elite route: the key section – the Možjanca climb

The men’s and women’s elite races follow identical routes, starting in Ljubljana and heading towards Šenčur along a largely flat section. There, a 22.1-kilometre circuit begins, with 367 metres of elevation gain per lap. After an initial climb through Olševek, the route continues with the steep ascent to Možjanca. However, there’s no time to rest at the highest point: the road remains narrow and undulating before a technically demanding descent and a fast section on the flat lead to the finish. An attack on the climb must therefore also hold up over the subsequent flatter section.

Following the opening stage of just under 86 kilometres, the women will complete two laps, covering a total of around 130 kilometres and 1,359 metres of elevation gain. The men will complete five laps, covering around 196 kilometres with 2,571 metres of elevation gain. This difference is significant for how the race unfolds: in the men’s race, the steep climb and the technical descent are tackled five times, whilst in the women’s race they are tackled twice. A mass sprint cannot be ruled out on this course, but the repeated climbs offer opportunities for the field to be whittled down.

Unlike in the case of the 2025 European Cycling Championships in Val d’Enfer The main challenge in 2026 will be a circuit race near Šenčur. The road races will kick off the European Championships; the time trials and mixed relays will follow the following week.

2026 European Cycling Championships: An overview of the start times

All times apply to Germany as well. The information is based on the competition schedule issued by the European Cycling Union (UEC) on 26 September 2026; last-minute changes are possible.

There are no title races scheduled for Monday, 5 October. The individual time trials will take place on Wednesday on a 22-kilometre course, starting and finishing in Šenčur. The mixed relays will also start and finish there. The race consists of two laps.

2026 European Cycling Championships on TV and via livestream

According to the programme schedule, Eurosport will be showing the Elite Women’s Road Race on Saturday 3 October from 1.20 pm to 5.40 pm. The broadcast on Eurosport 1 will run from 3.30 pm to 5.15 pm. The race starts at 1.30 pm. The elite men’s road race will be shown on Eurosport (1) on Sunday 4 October from 12.20 pm to 6.00 pm. The start is scheduled for 12.30 pm.

For the second half of the European Championships, the schedule on Eurosport (1) features the elite mixed relay on Tuesday from 3.20 pm to 5.10 pm. On Wednesday, the elite women’s individual time trials will be shown on Eurosport 1 from 2.20 pm to 4.00 pm. Eurosport will broadcast the event from 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm. The elite men’s race will be broadcast on Eurosport from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm. Eurosport 1 will show the race from 4.05 pm to 5.40 pm. The UEC also lists digital broadcasts for individual junior races. It’s worth checking the latest schedule before tuning in, as broadcast times are subject to change.

Who will be competing in the 2026 European Cycling Championships?

The UEC initially publishes entry lists, which also include reserve riders. This is not yet the final starting line-up. For the women’s race, the German entry list includes, amongst others, Ricarda Bauernfeind, Franziska Koch, Liane Lippert, Antonia Niedermaier and Linda Riedmann. Their actual participation should be checked against the final list the day before the race.

In the men’s race, too, a distinction must be made between entry and confirmed participation. Whether Tadej Pogačar would race at the European Championships on home soil following his injury was still uncertain until recently. TOUR has the Update on Pogačar’s possible return to the European Championships classified separately. When assessing the riders’ chances of winning, it is not just a big name that counts, but who can withstand the repeated climb up to Možjanca and still have enough energy left after the final descent to make it to Šenčur.