The World Cycling Championships have barely ended, but we can already look ahead to the next major event. The European Cycling Championships are on the schedule, with Slovenia as the host country. Demi Vollering, wearing the rainbow jersey, will have the chance to defend her European title. IDL Pro Cycling looks ahead!
Unlike the World Championships, the European Cycling Championships are still a relatively new event. The continental competition was launched in 2016, and in Brittany, we immediately saw a Dutch winner in the women’s race. Anna van der Breggen became the first European champion, marking the beginning of Dutch dominance.
Of the ten editions held so far, no fewer than nine have been won by the Dutch women. Marianne Vos, Amy Pieters, Annemiek van Vleuten, Ellen van Dijk, Mischa Bredewold, Lorena Wiebes, and Demi Vollering each got to wear the white-and-blue jersey for a year. The only odd one out? Marta Bastianelli in 2019, who beat favorite Vos in the sprint.Recent Winners of the European Women’s Cycling Championships
2025 Demi Vollering
2024 Lorena Wiebes
2023 Mischa Bredewold
2022 Ellen van Dijk
2021 Annemiek van Vleuten
2020 Amy Pieters
2018 Marta Bastianelli
2017 Marianne Vos
2016 Anna van der Breggen
2026 Women’s European Cycling Championships: route, weather, and times
The World Cycling Championships in Canada were an unparalleled race for the women. With 180 kilometers and 2,400 meters of elevation gain, it was an extremely grueling course, but in Slovenia, they’re taking a slightly different approach. The race is only 130 kilometers long and has less than 1,400 meters of elevation gain. These are numbers that favor sprinters, but you can still expect a very different winner.
From the capital, Ljubljana, the route will be virtually flat for over ninety kilometers. Passing through Kranj, Valburga, and Kamnik, the riders will arrive in Komenda, the birthplace of Tadej Pogacar. Shortly thereafter, with 52 kilometers to go, they will enter a local circuit. The finish line in Sencur will be crossed for the first time after 86 kilometers, and that’s when things will really get exciting.
Read more below the photo!
Because the final two stages feature one incredibly tough obstacle. The Mozjanca climb is an unknown quantity and has never even been included in the Tour of Slovenia, but it’s a real beast: 2.1 kilometers at a 10.4 percent gradient! It’s a steady climb, with peaks of up to 12 percent and the gentlest sections at 9 percent. And the plateau that follows is no walk in the park either.
Because after that climb, the riders still have to climb 700 meters at a 4 percent grade, followed by a short descent and then a 300-meter stretch at a 6 percent grade. It may not seem like much, but after a climb like that, these are dangerous sections. The descent is about three kilometers long, followed by a long valley: there are more than twenty kilometers between the first and second passes through Mozjanca.
The last official summit of that climb is fifteen kilometers from the finish line, but after the descent, there are still about eight kilometers to go. The race could already be decided, but the flat final stretch to Sencur is long enough that a lot can still happen.
Read more below the photo!
Weather report
It looks like perfect racing weather in Slovenia on Saturday. Not too hot, at 21 degrees. It’ll stay dry, not a cloud in the sky, and wind force 1: you can’t ask for better.
Important times
Start: 12:50 p.m GMT / 7:50 am ET
Finish: approx. 3:50 p.m / 10:50 am ET
Favourites for the 2026 Women’s European Cycling Championships
The official starting lists haven’t been released yet: this is based on the information currently available.
Demi Vollering finally clinched the coveted world title in Canada. Her year couldn’t get any better, but she flew back to the Netherlands that very same day, with just one goal in mind: she wants to defend her European title at all costs. If she wins, we won’t see the European jersey for a whole year. Given her current form, she’ll definitely be the top favorite. And with Kasia Niewiadoma, we already know who the main challenger is.The pair are almost inseparable, but that could also be a weakness. Elisa Longo Borghini nearly capitalized on that in Montreal, and she’s heading to Slovenia with a strong lineup: Eleonora Gasparrini also had a top-notch race. France will mainly look to make an impact with its depth, featuring Cédrine Kerbaol, Juliette Berthet, and Maeva Squiban. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, just as at the World Championships, will not be there.
Also in the field: Franziska Koch. She finished tenth at the grueling World Championships, and this course should suit her better. Liane Lippert is also a dangerous competitor. In addition to Niewiadoma, Poland also has Dominika Włodarczyk, though she often thrives on a more challenging course. Unfortunately, home favorite Urska Zigart will remain at home following her broken jaw, as will her boyfriend Pogacar on the men’s side.
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Paula Blasi took a hard fall at the World Championships, but she’ll be hoping for redemption in Slovenia, provided she’s fit enough. Otherwise, Spain will look to Usoa Ostolaza and veteran Mavi García. Speaking of redemption: Marlen Reusser was quite frustrated after the road race in Canada and has a chance to make amends in Slovenia. Switzerland also has Noemi Rüegg.
National team coach Laurens ten Dam said after the World Championships that the strategy for the European Championships would be the same: feed all the balls to Vollering. Virtually the same team is lining up in Ljubljana. Should the race unfold differently, however, Puck Pieterse, Riejanne Markus, and Karlijn Swinkels are ones to watch. The only newcomer? Lorena Wiebes. She’s normally there as a support rider, but suppose she survives…
Top Favorites: Demi Vollering (Netherlands) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Poland)
Dark horses: Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy), Marlen Reusser (Switzerland), Franziska Koch (Germany), and Paula Blasi (Spain)
Long shots: Noemi Rüegg (Switzerland), Puck Pieterse, Lorena Wiebes (Netherlands), Cédrine Kerbaol, Juliette Berthet (France), Liane Lippert (Germany), and Eleonora Gasparrini (Italy)
TV Coverage of the 2026 Women’s European Cycling Championships
You can watch the European Championship on TV on TNT Sports, HBO Max and FloSports. Coverage begins at 12:20 p.m GMT (7:20 a.m ET)
UK Viewers – TNT SportsNorth American viewers – FloSportsEuropean viewers – Eurosport or HBO MaxAustralian viewers – Stan Sports