Demi Vollering wins the 2026 European Championships in Slovenia. The world champion attacks on Možjanca with 14.6 km to go, edging Pieterse and Reusser.
Demi Vollering won the 2026 European Championships and defended her title with an impressive display of strength. The world champion attacked on the Možjanca climb with 14.6 kilometers to go and reached Šenčur alone. Puck Pieterse finished second, Marlen Reusser third.
Demi Vollering leaves no room for rivals. In her first race in the rainbow jersey she won at the World Championships in Montreal, the Dutchwoman also took the 2026 European Championship , confirming her continental title at the end of a race dominated by the Netherlands national team.
The decisive moment comes 14.6 kilometres from the finish , on the second and final climb of the very tough Možjanca .
When Vollering accelerates, no one can respond.
From that moment on, the gold rush was practically over.
The decisive selection begins on the first ramps of the final climb.
The Dutch national team took control of the race with Femke De Vries , who set a very high pace and drastically reduced the group of favourites.
Shortly after, Puck Pieterse further increased the pace. Elisa Longo Borghini and Antonia Niedermaier began to lose ground, while Vollering, Pieterse, and Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney remained in front.
At that point the world champion decides that the time has come to end the match.
With 14.6 km to go , Vollering changes pace and sets off.
Niewiadoma is unable to follow her, while Pieterse remains on the Polish rider's wheel without collaborating in the pursuit.
Up front, however, Vollering continues to gain ground.
For Vollering, this is also a symbolic day.
The European Championships is in fact the first race held after winning the world title in Montreal .
And the debut in the rainbow jersey couldn't have been better.
Once over the top, the Dutchwoman continued to push even on the fast stretch towards Šenčur, without giving her pursuers any chance.
The margin becomes sufficient to allow her to enjoy the final metres and celebrate a victory that completes a very prestigious double: World and European road championships in the same season .
The superiority of the Dutch national team had already appeared evident in the previous stages.
The initial breakaway, composed of Carina Schrempf and Margot Vanpachtenbeke , never really had any space.
The group kept the two attackers under control, also thanks to the work of the Dutch, with Lorena Wiebes very active in the early stages.
A crash around 44 kilometres from the finish further increased tension in the peloton, before the race finally entered the final circuit.
On the first ascent of Možjanca, Karlijn Swinkels makes a very tough selection.
Her pace reduces the leading group to less than fifteen athletes.
With around 37 kilometres to go, Marlen Reusser then comes into action and further narrows the group with an acceleration towards the summit.
Seven runners remain at the front: Reusser, Juliette Berthet, Elisa Longo Borghini, Antonia Niedermaier, Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney, Puck Pieterse and Demi Vollering.
The attacks continued on the descent, but without creating any decisive gaps.
The marking phase between the favourites then allows Franziska Koch to try her luck from afar.
The German started just over 28 kilometres from the finish and was immediately joined by Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig .
The two managed to gain about half a minute of advantage, but the group of favorites gradually increased the pace.
By the time the bell rang, with 22 kilometers to go, their lead had already dropped to a handful of seconds.
Shortly after they are resumed.
After Vollering's decisive attack, the battle for the other two medals opens up behind him.
Elisa Longo Borghini, Antonia Niedermaier and Marlen Reusser manage to get back on Pieterse and Niewiadoma-Phinney.
The fight remains open until the last kilometer.
Niewiadoma-Phinney crashes in the final and loses his chance to fight for the podium.
In the sprint for second place, Puck Pieterse prevailed, completing a splendid Dutch double.
Marlen Reusser wins the bronze medal.
In front of everyone, however, there is once again Demi Vollering.
The world and European champion thus confirms her dominance in the major international races and begins her adventure in the rainbow jersey in the best possible way.
Sports journalist and cycling enthusiast, following professional cycling for over 10 years. Collaborates with FantaCycling to bring you the best analysis and news from the world of cycling.
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