Huub Artz outsprints Niklas Behrens at the line and is crowned European champion

The 162km course between Hasselt and Heusden-Zolder was the battleground for the U23 Men’s European title. After a thrilling sprint, it was Huub Artz who had the fastest legs and claimed the European championship title. The German Niklas Behrens was second and Frenchman Léandre Lozouet was third.

At 13:30, Heusden-Zolder prepared itself for the start of the U23 Men's European Championships. Immediately after the official start of the race, the contest for the early break began. A sizable group of 7 riders (the Dane Stian Rosenlund, German Julian Borresch, Pole Mateusz Gajdulewicz, Luxembourger Mats Wenzel, Swede Carl Kagevi, Norwegian Halvor Utengen Sandstad and the Swiss Roman Holzer) managed to open up a gap. Their modest lead was wiped out after 50km of racing thanks to the efforts of the Belgian team.

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It was not until the Manshoven cobblestones that a new offensive was attempted. Some 90km from the finishing line, German Behrens surged ahead with Sojberg Rasmus Pedersen, Del Grosso and Sentjens, among others, tagging along behind him. An elite group of 14 riders was soon riding more than a minute ahead of the peloton. On the Zammelenberg, the peloton commenced the chase to catch the leaders. A group of 9 riders managed to get away and approached to within half a minute of the leading group.

As the peloton closed in on the front of the race, with 58 km to go, Dutchman Huub Artz made his move to escape the leading group.  Frenchman Lozouet and Behrens tucked in behind him and the three of them built up a small lead. 35 km from the finish, Wenzel and Weiss attempted to cross the gap to the front, but entering the final local lap, the advantage that the leading group had was never again threatened.

With 5km to go, the battle for the gold medal erupted in full after a barrage of attacks by Behrens and Artz.  The Dutchman and the German left Lozouet behind in the final straight and the two rode together to the finish on Koning Boudewijnlaan. After a gripping sprint, it was Huub Artz who ultimately took the European Championship title. Germany's Behrens finished an impressive second and France's Lozouet's efforts were rewarded with the bronze medal.