Stefan Bissegger and Stefan Küng are using the European Championships in Belgium as a dress rehearsal for the World Championships in Zurich. The duo are among the favorites in the time trial.
Ten days before the start of the World Championships in Zurich, the European Road Cycling Championships open on Wednesday in the Belgian province of Limburg. The Swiss delegation has the best prospects in the men's individual time trial.
While the Olympic medal winners, Belgian Remco Evenepoel, Italian Filippo Ganna and Evenepoel's compatriot Wout van Aert, are absent for various reasons, Stefan Bissegger and Stefan Küng are using the 31 km race in Flanders as their main rehearsal for the World Championships. The course is largely flat and the two riders from Thurgau are among the favorites. The 30-year-old Küng has already won the European Championship title twice, in 2020 and 2021, while Bissegger, who is five years younger, won the gold medal in 2022.
Due to the absence of Marlen Reusser for health reasons, the Swiss women's prospects are better in the road race than in the time trial. Noemi Rüegg demonstrated last week at the Tour de Romandie Féminin that she can even keep up with the reigning world champion Lotte Kopecky from Belgium in the sprint. The 23-year-old from Zurich is therefore likely to take on the role of leader of the Swiss team.
The time trials will take place on Wednesday, while the road races will be held on Saturday (women) and Sunday (men).
SDA