European Cycling Championships 2023: This is the German line-up: Lippert is the biggest medal hope

Having only managed bronze in the mixed relay at the World Championships in August, the German Cycling Federation (BDR) is now aiming for individual honours again at the European Championships. The women's road race is likely to offer the best chance of achieving this.

>> Overview of all European Championship races 2023

For Liane Lippert (Movistar). The 25-year-old has been given the captain's role and has just finished the Tour de Romandie Feminin with a stage win in a sprint from a large group proved that she is in good form. What's more, the parcours around the VAM mountain is reminiscent of the Belgian classics. Lippert finished second behind Demi Vollering in this year's Fleche Wallonne Feminin. The Dutchwoman is also competing in the European road race and is one of the favourites.

Degenkolb and Co. only with outsider chances

In the men's race, the captain's role is not clearly assigned. Kim Heiduk (Ineos Grenadiers), last year's U23 European champion Felix Engelhardt (Team Jayco-AlUla) and Jonas Koch (Bora-Hansgrohe) all come from the Vuelta and delivered well there. If there is enough juice left in the tank, they could attract attention via breakaway groups. If it comes to a sprint, Max Walscheid (Cofidis) will be the trump card. John Degenkolb (Team dsm-firmenich) will be the road captain, who, as at the World Championships in Glasgow, will once again be able to use his experience on narrow and winding roads to place his colleagues.

The German men are not favourites for a medal, and that also applies to the time trial, even though top favourite Filippo Ganna (Italy) has cancelled his start. And also for the women in the battle against the clock. Walscheid, Miguel Heidemann (Leopard - TOGT) as well as Katharina Fox (Maxx-Solar - Rose) and Lisa Klein (Lidl-Trek) are only outsiders.

Niedermaier among the favourites for the U23s

It's a different story in the U23 category. Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon//SRAM) became world champion against the clock in Glasgow and is therefore automatically one of the favourites for the European Championships. And the 20-year-old doesn't have to be without a chance in the road race either if she is in the right group on the VAM mountain.

The men's race looks similar to the elite category. No top placings are expected in the time trial, but in the road race Henri Uhlig (Alpecin - Deceuninck Development) or Tim Torn Teutenberg (Leopard - TOGT) could perhaps cause a surprise if the race goes well.

Juniors and relay teams good for precious metal again

In Glasgow, the German juniors in particular polished up the BDR's medal tally. Louis Leidert (RSV rad-net) took bronze in the time trial, Paul Fietzke (RSC Cottbus) silver in the road race. This could work again in Drenthe.

Juniors Pia Grünwald (RSV Irschenberg) and Hannah Kunz (VfR Baumholder 1886) finished in the top 10 in the time trial in Scotland - without the competition from overseas, a top result is possible. At least for Kunz, Grünwald is only competing in the road race. Last year's European champion, Justyna Czapla (Canyon//SRAM Generation), will not get the chance to defend her title. She is competing in the U23.

And then there are the two relay teams. Both the elite and the juniors will compete for the European Championships in Emmen with six riders, three women and three men. At the 2022 European Championships, the German U19s took silver in the 2x2, Leidert and Kunz were there then and are there again now. The elite did not win a European title last year, but the U23 did. And gold went clearly to the traditionally strong German relay team. After bronze at the World Championships this year, a similar line-up to that in Glasgow - Mieke Kröger replaces Ricarda Bauernfeind - means that precious metal is once again achievable.

The BDR line-up for the 2023 European Cycling Championships

Elite women

Road race

• Liane Lippert (Movistar)
• Romy Kasper (AG Insurance - Soudal - Quick Step)
• Lisa Klein (Lidl-Trek)
• Franziska Koch (Team dsm-firmenich)
• Hannah Ludwig (Uno-X)
• Lea Lin Teutenberg (Ceratizit - WNT)

Individual time trial

• Katharina Fox (Maxx-Solar - Rose)
• Lisa Klein

Elite men

Road race

• Max Walscheid (Cofidis)
• John Degenkolb (Team dsm-firmenich)
• Felix Engelhardt (Team Jayco-AlUla)
• Kim Heiduk (Ineos Grenadiers)
• Jonas Koch (Bora-Hansgrohe)
• Michael Schwarzmann (Lotto Dstny)
• Jannik Steimle (Soudal - Quick Step)

Individual time trial

• Miguel Heidemann (Leopard - TOGT)
• Max Walscheid

Elite mixed relay

• Mieke Kröger (Human Powered Health)
• Lisa Klein
• Franziska Koch
• Miguel Heidemann
• Jannik Steimle
• Max Walscheid

U23 Women

Road race

• Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon//SRAM)
• Linda Riedmann (Jumbo - Visma)
• Justyna Czapla (Canyon//SRAM Generation)
• Hanna Dopjans (RSV Irschenberg)
• Selma Lantzsch (Maxx-Solar - Rose)
• Jette Simon (Maxx-Solar - Rose)

Individual time trial

• Antonia Niedermaier
• Linda Riedmann

U23 Men

Road race

• Tobias Buck-Gramcko (rad-net - Oßwald)
• Roman Duckert (Storck - Metropol)
• Luca Dreßler (Lotto - Kern Haus)
• Vincent John (rad-net - Oßwald),
• Tim Torn Teutenberg (Leopard - TOGT)
• Henri Uhlig (Alpecin - Deceuninck Development)

Individual time trial

• Tobias Buck-Gramcko
• Tim Torn Teutenberg

Juniors

Road race

• Anna Borger (VCS Cologne)
• Pia Grünewald (RSV Irschenberg)
• Hannah Kunz (VfR Baumholder 1886)
• Jule Märkl (RSC Linden)
• Joelle Messemer (RSC Linden)
• Judith Rottmann (RC Victoria Neheim)

Individual time trial

• Anna Borger
• Hannah Kunz
• Judith Rottmann

Juniors

Road race

• Leon Arenz (RSV Staubwolke Refrath)
• Paul Fietzke (RSC Cottbus)
• Louis Grupp (RSC Linden)
• Ian Kings (VfR Büttgen)
• Bruno Kessler (SC DHFK Leipzig)
• Louis Leidert (RSV rad-net)

Individual time trial

• Paul Fietzke
• Ian Kings
• Louis Leidert

Junior mixed relay

• Pia Grünewald
• Hannah Kunz
• Joelle Messemer
• Moritz Bell (RV Zugvogel Aachen)
• Louis Leidert
• Bruno Kessler