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Eduardo Affini (Italy) claimed the European title within the elite males’s 31.3km particular person time trial in Hasselt on Wednesday.
Switzerland’s Stefan Küng completed simply shy of 10 seconds slower to take the silver medal, whereas Mattia Cattaneo was a shocking third, making two Italians on the rostrum.
It was a decent race between the 2021 European Champion Küng and the 2018 under-23 European Champion Affini, with Küng going out tougher within the first 10 kilometres. The Swiss rider was quickest at that first verify, 14 seconds forward of Affini.
Nonetheless, by the second verify after 20 kilometres, Affini had picked up his tempo significantly whereas Küng was extra regular and got here by way of the verify 0.62 seconds slower than Affini.
Over the ultimate 11.3 kilometres, Küng rallied and clawed again a couple of seconds nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient. He got here in 9.59 slower than the Italian’s time.
Affini is the primary Italian winner of the European males’s time trial which was added to the UEC’s programme in 2016, and it was an emotional second for the 28-year-old who obtained a congratulatory telephone name from compatriot Filippo Ganna after the end.
“I do not know what to say,” Affini mentioned combating again tears. “It is an excellent feeling. It has been a very long time and not using a win. I’ve at all times been there. I’ve at all times executed my job.
“Right this moment I began with out strain. The final three weeks have been a troublesome Vuelta for me. One of the crucial troublesome Grand Excursions ever for me. On Sunday I didn’t really feel so good. It was OK, however I felt like I lacked the facility to realize an excellent end result.
“My coach mentioned it’d really feel higher later. I began and, unusually sufficient, I felt fairly OK,” Affini added. “Now it is onerous to imagine. I am making an attempt to take pleasure in it as a lot as doable. Tomorrow, I can obtain one other good end result with my nationwide crew.”
The European Championships proceed on Thursday with the crew time trial combined relay.
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