"This is the biggest result of my career" - Estonian Madis Mihkels stuns with a podium finish at the European Championships
Cycling
Tim Merlier and Olav Kooij on the podium of the European Championships won't surprise anyone, but... who's the third guy? Many commentators were in desbelief, frantically listing through their printed startlists but... Yes! It is the 21-year-old Estonian talent Madis Mihkels. Are you surprised? I don't know anyone who wasn't. This result only underlines the superb work of scouts at Intermarché - Wanty, who thus secured fourth medal in Limburg.
In an interview with the Estonian national broadcaster ERR he describes the final parts of the race, where he had to rely mostly in his own intuition: "Only Karl Patrick Lauk was still with me in the last kilometer. In the end I decided to go after Kooij, he kept me out of the wind which gave me momentum. I thought I was getting closer to Merlier and Kooij in the last meters. It was just perfect," says Mihkels.
"On the way, my teammates supported me as much as possible so that I didn't have to ride into the wind at the most important points. The level was high. Making it to the podium also says something about my form. It may not be quite the same as when you can raise your hand in the air, but this is still the biggest result of my career."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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Madis Mihkels wins the 4th medal of Intermarché-Wanty in the European Championships 🤩 🥇 Huub Artz (U23) 🥇 Felix Ørn-Kristoff (Juniors) 🥉 Madis Mihkels (Elite) 🥉 Felix Ørn-Kristoff (Mixed Relay) #EuroRoad24 #Limburg2024
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