Italy dominated the 2022 edition of the Juniors and Under 23 Track European Championships held in Anadia (Portugal), which was today’s closing event after three weeks of great cycling with the MTB and Road European Championships also taking place in the same city.
Italian athletes came top in the final medals table winning a total of 23 medals: 16 gold (out of the 44 on offer), 2 silver and 5 bronze, in front of Germany (8, 13 and 8) and Great Britain (5, 9 and 7).
The Italians’ success was in part down to the high level of quality in the women’s sector over the last few years, and the Men’s achievement in the Sprint was remarkable, with wins by Matteo Bianchi in the Under 23 Km and Keirin, and Mattia Predomo who won the gold medal in the Juniors Sprint and Keirin.
Germany confirmed its tradition in the Sprint especially in the Women’s with wins in the Sprint (with Alessa Catriona Propster, also first in the Keirin) and Team Sprint in both categories, as well as the 500 metres and Juniors Women’s Sprint with Clara Schneider, while in the Men’s Juniors they won gold in the Team Sprint.
The continental event also spotlighted very promising talent such as the French Under 23 Taky Marie Divine Kouame, first in the 500 m, the Belgian Shari Bossuyt, gold medal in the Under 23 Elimination and Omnium, the Austrian Maximilian Schmidbauer winner of the Under 23 Points Race title and the Czech Juniors Anna Jabornikova, gold medal in the Keirin, and Matej Hytych first in the Km race.
Enrico Della Casa, President of the Européenne de Cyclisme: «Today we have closed a historic event for the Union Européenne de Cyclisme as it is the first time we have had three Championships organised in the same city in the space of three weeks. The success of the event in Anadia goes without saying and is the result of years of close co-operation with the Portuguese Cycling Federation and with this city, which has always welcomed us with passion and enthusiasm.
The long series of previous, current and future projects for young people in Anadia demonstrates the planning and support of youth sport by local administrators.
I wish to thank the Portuguese Cycling Federation and its President Delmino Pereira who, together with the UCI Honorary Member Dr Artur Lopes, strongly backed and supported the construction of the Satellite Centre in Anadia, which today is a leading example in Europe.
I would like to especially thank the city of Anadia, the Mayor Teresa Cardoso and the Municipality Vice-President José Sampaio, all the organisations and institutions which believed in the project from the start, and above all organisers and volunteers who had a huge task, and today are rewarded by the great success of this historic event.»
Results #EuroTrack22 – click here
