“I didn’t expect it, it’s incredible” - New European champion is the daughter of former world champion and Tour of Flanders winner
Cycling
Azzurra Ballan delivered one of the day’s biggest upsets by winning the Junior Women’s European Championship road race. A race shaped by tough conditions and the accumulated wear of the course. The Italian read the race astutely and chose the right moment to play her cards, sealing a victory she did not expect when she signed on.
Italy’s representative had to adapt to an unfavourable scenario, with conditions that disrupted a normal race rhythm. Rather than wait for a last‑metre sprint, Ballan attacked early to take her chance before the main favourites could lock it down.
Perhaps it's a family affair for the Italian, who is the daughter of former world champion and Tour of Flanders winner Alessandro Ballan. The Lampre and BMC great enjoyed a stellar career with highlights such as a Vuelta stage win on top of his 2008 rainbow jersey.
Her strategy paid off. The Italian stayed in contention all the way to the line and seized her moment, capping a performance that rewards both her bravery and the work done with the Italian team. The win is also important recognition for a rider who capitalised on an especially demanding day.
Ballan crossed the line visibly emotional and did not hide her surprise at the result. The victory came after a day in which she took risks, contributed to the collective effort, and trusted her chances to the end. That blend turned her into one of the race’s protagonists.
“I didn’t expect it”
“I’m very happy, it’s incredible. I want to thank the team, the Italian team. It was an incredible day. I didn’t expect it, because the conditions weren’t the best,” said Ballan after sealing the win.
The Italian admitted she decided to make a move earlier than planned to try to change the course of the race. “I tried to anticipate and in the end I got away,” she noted of the moment she sought to surprise the rest. Her gamble was not improvised, but born of the conviction there was a real chance to fight for the win.
“I knew I could go for the victory, so I did my share of the work and made it to the end,” Ballan added. Her words reflect the confidence she carried into the decisive kilometres and the importance of her contribution in keeping the winning option alive.
That smile says it all! 😍🇮🇹⭐ A very happy Azzurra Ballan after becoming Women Junior Road Race European Champion. 🥇 🎙️ Hear from our new champion! #EuroRoad26 #cycling #sencur #slovenia https://t.co/1xNI0TliZC
— UEC Cycling (@UEC_cycling) October 4, 2026
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Attacking gamble rewarded
The result rewards an attacking bet on a difficult day. Ballan did not wait for a conventional finale and exploited the circumstances to open a gap that proved decisive.
Her triumph gains extra weight for the surprise it even held for the winner herself, who admitted she did not expect such an outcome.
With this ride, Azzurra Ballan puts her name among the day’s standout performers and shows that in races shaped by weather, course, and fatigue, the ability to anticipate can be decisive. The Italian found her opening and did not let it slip.

Javier RampeCycling Journalist
Javier Rampe is a sports analyst with more than 15 years of experience. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Rome and a Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Cádiz. Despite coming from an academic background not particularly associated with cycling, his passion for both cycling and journalism was instilled in him from an early age. He grew up following Miguel Indurain and José María “El Chava” Jiménez. An admirer of Michael Robinson’s communication style and journalistic approach, he was inspired to pursue a degree in Journalism at the University of Buenos Aires, which he is currently completing.
He has always maintained close ties with the worlds of sport and culture, contributing from a young age to sports blogs and film and music review websites. His work has appeared in media outlets such as Cope, RAI, and Radio Con Vos. He is also the founder of the cycling-focused podcast El Contraanálisis and the football interview channel Días De Fútbol, dedicated to conversations with professional footballers.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Javier has interviewed some of the most influential figures in modern cycling, including Alejandro Valverde and Tadej Pogačar, as well as key voices in anti-doping policy such as Alberto Yelmo, David Varillas, and Marcelo Milano. Marcos Maynar, in relation to the ‘Operación Ílex’ case, is also among the personalities he has interviewed. He enjoys conducting in-depth analysis of the cycling ecosystem and has attended major events such as Strade Bianche, the Vuelta a Andalucía, and Itzulia, as well as numerous national cyclo-cross races.
His background in economics, combined with extensive experience in marketing and corporate communications, drives his continuous study of positioning strategies and ensures that he always keeps his focus on crafting compelling and evocative headlines.
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- I hope he rides a bitmij15-11-2026
- Greatest athlete this world has ever produced ! LOL ... you definitely are a comdian ! Cycling is so sprecialized and you think he's the greatest athlete ever ! Still laughing !frieders315-11-2026
- b.s. headline. Jonas wasn't told anything, it is just a pundit telling him what to do. the actual article is not even close to the insinuation of the headline.mij15-11-2026
- I think Roglic could have beaten Sepp. not Jonas. I was referring to Sepp.mij15-11-2026
- I'm deeply sick of this guy and his unwillingness to race seriously for more than a month or two. I'll never respect riders who do that. Seixas will be stronger than him next season, and maybe Del Toro as well. I don't even think he'll finish on the podium at any GT where Pogi, Seixas, and Del Toro are racing.megasmacky15-11-2026
- Not a chance in hell.megasmacky15-11-2026
- If you go watch some races from last season other riders that have never caught Jonas...are now catching him. Some are just riding away from him and he can't hold the wheelmd197514-11-2026
- He just doesn't have the desire anymore. I read an article earlier today that said he almost retired last year. His reasoning was he is away from home to much. Visma was able to keep him riding by allowing him to skip certain camps. So, while currently Visma is doing altitude work...Jonas is at home. Which means 2 things. 1- He maybe fresher than other riders. But, not the condition. 2-Is a somewhat slap in the face to others on the team that are supposed to help him win. Yet feel like he hasn't done what they have so perhaps they don't provide as good of protection or they ride more for theme (which the team may not notice).md197514-11-2026
- Roglic could not have won anyway, after Jonas followed him when Roglic decided it was his turn for a stage win. Jonas had already attacked Kuss twice, so it was Jonas who was within seconds of taking the lead before Kuss was 'gifted' the win. It felt a bit like Roglic was being thrown under the bus when the team made his unhappiness public.Hills3314-11-2026
- POG1, another nice doc about our favourite, I watched most of it with a big smile on my face (except for the bits about his crashes 😢 obvs!).Lozza14-11-2026
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