Germany dominated the 2019 edition of the Junior and Under 23 Track European Championships raced in Ghent (Belgium) in the venue dedicated to Eddy Merckx
German riders lead the final medals table with a total of 24 medals: 13 golds (out of the 44 on offer), 4 silver and 7 bronze, ahead of Great Britain (7, 5 and 2) and Russia (6, 3, and 7).
While Germany’s success was attributed to the great performances in the Men’s categories with 8 titles, as well as the 5 Women’s titles, the Italians once again triumphed in the Women’s categories winning 6 golds.
This continental event also highlighted great individual talent such as the Greek rider, Konstantinos Livanos, winner of the Kilometre and Junior Sprint, meanwhile in the Junior Women’s Sprint events, nearly all the medals were won by the Briton, Emma Finucane, gold medallist in the 500 metres and silver in the Sprint and Team Sprint (with Charlotte Robinson), the German, Alessa-Catriona Propster, first in the Keirin and Sprint, second in the 500 metres and third in the Team Sprint (with Christina Sperlich), and the French rider Taky Marie Divine Kouame who won three bronze medals: Keirin, Sprint and 500 metres. Also in the Junior Women’s events, the Irish rider Lara Gillespie won three silver medals (Points Race, Pursuit and Scratch).
Poland demonstrated its strong tradition in the Sprint following the success in the Team Sprint in the two women’s races, just like the Netherlands who won the Under 23 Sprint titles with Harrie Lavreysen and in the Team Sprint, meanwhile Russia was victorious in the Under 23 Team Pursuit.
Among the other remarkable results, in the Women’s Under 23 events were the wins by Mathilde Gros (France) in the Sprint, Lea Sophie Friedric (Germany) in the 500 metres and Keirin and the multiple champion Letizia Paternoster in the Elimination, the Team Pursuit (with Vittoria Guazzini, Martina Alzini, Elisa Balsamo and Marta Cavalli) and in the Madison with Elisa Balsamo. On the last day Great Britain won the titles in the Under 23 Madison with Matthew Walls (also winner in the Omnium) and Fred Wright with Elynor Backsted (also first in the Individual Pursuit) and Sophie Lewis.
The next edition of the Junior and Under 23 Track European Championships will take place in Anadia (Portugal) from 14 to 19 July 2020.
Results and medals table #EuroTrack19 – click here
