Pre-race favourite Remco Evenepoel delivered the goods, outsprinting Giulio Ciccone to claim the men’s road race title in a photo-finish at the European Championships in Slovenia on Sunday. The Italian was the only rider to be able to stay on Evenepoel’s wheel when he attacked with 32 kilometres to go.

The two stayed together for the fifth and final ascent of Možjanca, extending their advantage as they raced toward the finish. Inside the final 10 kilometres, Evenepoel shook his head in frustration after Ciccone refused to take a turn at the front.

Evenepoel led into the final corner at 300 metres, but Ciccone used the inside line to take the front, looking like he had the win in the bag. Evenepoel responded with a powerful acceleration, and the two threw their bikes toward the line, leaving the result too close to call. Both had to wait for confirmation before Evenepoel screamed in joy, while Ciccone was left bitterly disappointed.

After his Belgian teammates controlled the race and shut down every move, Evenepoel attacked twice, sliding out on a corner following his first move, and then four kilometres later, he attacked again and powered clear with Ciccone.

Behind, Italy’s Scaroni jumped from the chase group with 14 kilometres, and held on to take the bronze medal, crossing the line 59 seconds back.

“I have to thank my teammates a lot. The race they did was exactly how we wanted to do, and it was a bit of a tricky situation. Second last time on the climb, I think I put a nice attack but I went a bit too fast in the corner and I just slid away. I think there I could have could have gone, but in the end we stayed calm and we came back to the plan. And then I put an attack just before the descent. And then I was with Cicco in the front so we worked together pretty well,” Evenepoel said.

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