Results women's junior European Championships road race 2026 - Azzurra Ballan takes breakaway glory as world champion misses out on decisive move
Cycling
Abbruzza Ballan took a surprise victory at the European Championships junior women's race on Sunday, taking a breakaway victory as world champion Alejandra Neira and Spain missed out in Slovenia.
The women's junior road race course offered a straight three laps of the 22.1-kilometre circuit, meaning that riders will take in three ascents of the Mozjanca climb which will prove to be decisive.
Spain arrived at the start line boasting new world champion Alejandra Neira, but a high pace in the first lap saw her team spring to action, marking a dangerous breakaway that built a solid gap at the front from the peloton.
Naxara Odriozola, Leni Burger, Azzurra Ballan, Klara Dworatzek and Morgan Lestrade formed a five-rider break, boasting just over a minute on the peloton as they crossed the finish line for the first time with 44 kilometres to go. Dutch rider Jade Zijlstre found herself in the middle but ultimately failed to bridge across.
With Italy, France and two German riders all at the front, the peloton was forced to pace hard over the following lap, but to little avail. The leaders' gap grew to over two minutes on the second ascent of the climb, while even a sole Zijlstre kept her gap a minute ahead of the bunch.
Four leaders take control of race
As the race hit the descent, Odriozola lost contact with the front as Spain's advantage wained, she found herself in the path of Zijlstre as the peloton closed the gap to +1:30 during the day's descent.
Entering the final lap, it appeared the quartet out front would have their day, as behind, Odriozola and Zijlstre found themselves +1:34 behind and a peloton of just under 30 riders a further minute back at +2:35.
The climb solidified the quartet's control of the race as they jousted for gold, with Ballan and Lestrade putting the German duo under pressure. But Burger and Dworatzek ultimately stayed in contact over the top. behind, Zijlstre and Odriozola were caught as the peloton settled to fight for minor places.
A cagey final kilometres saw the German duo hold the advantage with two riders dictating the pace through the flamme rouge. Burger led the quartet through the final corner with 300 metres to go before Dworatzek launched her sprint.
But with a strong turn of pace, it was Ballan who came around the German to take victory ahead of Lestrade in second place. Dworatzek held on for third while Italy's Elisa Bianchi took the sprint behind for fifth as the remnants of the peloton came in 1:34 behind.
Results women's junior European Championships road race 2026
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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