Preview of the 2023 European Championships Time Trial | Time trial beasts let loose in Wildlands!

The Vuelta a España is over, and normally we would be gearing up for the World Championships Cycling, but not in 2023. This year, we've already had that phenomenal world championship featuring Mathieu van der Poel, which means the European Championships will now take the place of the World Championships. All of this is happening in our the Dutch town of Drenthe and IDLProCycling.com is eager to give you a preview!

Practical information European Championships Time Trial 2023

• Wednesday, September 20, 2023
• Participants
• Classification: European Championships

In this article

• Most recent winners
• Course, weather and times
• Favorites
• TV information

Most recent winners European Championships Time Trial 

2022 Stefan Bisegger
2021 Stefan Küng
2020 Stefan Küng
2019 Remco Evenepoel
2018 Victor Campenaerts
2017 Victor Campenaerts
2016 Jonathan Castroviejo

European Championships Time Trial 2023: Course, weather and times

The course is designed for the fast riders; there's no other way to describe it. The competitors will start on Wednesday at Wildlands, the zoo and tourist attraction in Emmen. The finish line is visible from the starting podium, but first, the riders must complete a 28.6-kilometer lap through the countryside of Drenthe.

The course will primarily be straight as it doesn't feature any technical roads. From Emmen, the route goes through Erm and Sleen to Zweeloo, where the turnaround point is. After that, they head back to Emmen, where the finish line is on Hondsrugweg.

Weather
There will be strong winds in Drenthe on Wednesday, particularly headwinds at the start. Pacing will be crucial, especially considering the wind conditions. The temperature will hover around 23 degrees Celsius, with little chance of precipitation.

Times
Start women: 2:30 pm
Finish women: 3:50 pm
Start men: 4:50 pm
Finish men: 5:50 pm

Favorites for the Women's European Championships Time Trial 2023

For the women, we already have a top favorite: Marlen Reusser from Switzerland. The SD Worx rider withdrew disheartened from the World Championships Time Trial, but has recharged through the Tour of Romandy in her home country for her last major goal of 2023: this European Championship. She won last year's European Championships in Fürstenfeldbruck; can she repeat that feat in Drenthe?

Demi Vollering seemed like a strong competitor for Reusser, but the Dutchwoman has withdrawn to give her body 'extra rest' ahead of the road race. Shirin van Anrooij has been called up as her replacement, but it is not expected that she will contend for victory. Riejanne Markus might, however. The Jumbo-Visma rider showed her capabilities in the Dutch National Championships, thereby earning herself a prominent place in this preview.

Lotte Kopecky, alongside Vollering, is the woman of 2023 and she also has a chance for a medal in Drenthe, although she probably would have preferred a more technical course. Nonetheless, we should never underestimate someone with Kopecky's abilities.

With Christina Schweinberger (Austria), Anna Henderson (Great Britain), and Juliette Labous (France), the third, fourth, and fifth-place finishers from the World Championships are also competing in the Netherlands. Other outsiders are Emma Norsgaard (Denmark), Agnieszka Skalniak-Sojka (Poland), Audrey Cordon-Ragot (France), and Vittoria Guazzini (Italy).

Favorites for the European Championships Time Trial 2023, according to IDLProCycling.com

Top favorite: Marlen Reusser (Switzerland)
Outsiders: Riejanne Markus (Netherlands), Lotte Kopecky (Belgium) and Anna Henderson (Great Britain)
Longshots: Christina Schweinberger (Austria), Emma Norsgaard (Denmark), Agnieszka Skalniak-Sojka (Poland), Juliette Labous, Audrey Cordon-Ragot (France) and Vittoria Guazzini (Italy)

Favorites for the men's European Championships Time Trial 2023

For the men, no Remco Evenepoel, the world champion time trial. The Belgian has chosen to skip the European Championships after a busy period with the Vuelta, in preparation for the Tour of Lombardy. Fellow Belgians Wout van Aert and Yves Lampaert are participating. The Jumbo-Visma rider had to skip the Super 8 Classic last Saturday due to illness but has recovered sufficiently for the title battle in Drenthe.

The biggest competitor for Van Aert may come from Wales: young Joshua Tarling, representing INEOS Grenadiers, has been a rising star in the pro ranks. The young Brit finished third in the World Championships and recently won the time trial in the Renewi Tour. Ethan Hayter is also an outsider for Great Britain. Their teammate Filippo Ganna has decided to skip the time trial after a challenging Vuelta, and will only participate in the road race.

The Swiss are also traditionally strong. Stefan Bissegger and Stefan Küng achieved a one-two finish last year in Fürstenfeldbruck, which will be difficult to replicate in Drenthe. Küng, in particular, has repeatedly shown this season that he can compete with the best time trialists in the world; Bissegger has had a more challenging year.

Other outsiders on the provisional participants' list are Mattia Cattaneo, Matteo Sobrero (Italy), Rémi Cavagna (France), Mikkel Bjerg (Denmark), Max Walscheid (Germany), Nelson Oliveira (Portugal), and the Norwegian Wollongong World Champions Soren Waerenskjold and Tobias Foss. Representing the Netherlands are Sjoerd Bax and Daan Hoole.

Favorites European Championship Time Trials 2023, according to IDLProCycling.com

Top favorites: Wout van Aert (Belgium) and Joshua Tarling (Britain)
Outsiders: Stefan Küng (Switzerland), Ethan Hayter (Britain) and Rémi Cavagna (France)
Longshots: Stefan Bissegger (Switzerland), Yves Lampaert (Belgium), Mattia Cattaneo (Italy), Mikkel Bjerg (Denmark), Tobias Foss (Norway) and Nelson Oliveira (Portugal)

TV European Championships Time Trial 2023

The European Time Trial Championships can be followed all Wednesday afternoon via NOS, Sporza and Eurosport. The latter channel will also be available on online platforms: Eurosport Player, Discovery+ and GCN+.