Triple triumph for Belgium on the first day of the European Road Cycling Championships

Belgium has made a strong start at the European Road Cycling Championships, securing three medals on the opening day of the competition. The highlight came with Lotte Kopecky’s victory in the women’s time trial, earning her the title of European champion.

Kopecky rode the 31.3 kilometres between Heusden-Zolder and Hasselt in exactly 39 minutes, good for an average of 48.138 km per hour. This made her 43 seconds faster than Dutch cyclist Ellen Van Dijk and over a minute faster than Austrian Christina Schweinberger.

In addition to Kopecky’s gold, Belgium added two more medals to its tally. Alec Segaert took home the gold medal in the U23 men’s time trial, and Jasper Schoofs won the silver medal in the junior men’s time trial. Victor Campenaerts could not clinch a fourth medal for team Belgium on Wednesday night. He finished sixth in the men's time trial.

On Thursday, the mixed relay junior and elite will take place. 

^{Belgian Lotte Kopecky celebrates her victory in the women’s time trial at the European Championship 2024 © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM}