20/09/2023

Joshua Tarling crowned European Champion with dominant time-trial performance

Joshua Tarling has backed up his impressive performance at the World Championships earlier this year by powering his way to a stunning victory at the European Championships individual time-trial.

The course of the individual time-trial will be extremely simple. With 29 kilometers in distance it isn't a long effort, but one where the best will stand out. Pan-flat roads and very long straightforward sectors will see the specialists have a day tailored to them, with start and finish in the town of Emmen.

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The first rider to set down an early benchmark was the Netherlands' Sjoerd Bax with his effort of 32.59.

Bax didn't last long in the hotseat however as the likes of Yves Lampaert, Remi Cavagna, Daan Hoole, Mattia Cattaneo all went faster but it was the reigning champion Stefan Bissegger who set the best time of the earlier riders.

There was then an awful crash involving Bissgger's Swiss teammate Stefan Kung as he clipped a barrier and went down hard.

Although he remounted, he crossed the line looking bloody and brutalised.

Wout van Aert was just slower than Bissegger but barely as the Belgian crossed the line, 19-year-old Joshua Tarling flew across the line behind to secure victory and take the European title.