Preview Cycling World Championships - Juniors 2023 | The young ones are eager to join the fray!
CyclingThursday, 03 August 2023 at 10:40
The super World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland kicked off with track cycling, but from Saturday there will also be road racing in the UK. The juniors will be the first to take on the grueling city circuit, about which IDLProCycling.com will tell you all about!
If you look at the list of winners of the junior races over the past ten years, you will see many current pros. Especially the Dutch (Mathieu van der Poel won in 2013) and Belgians (Remco Evenepoel won in 2018) have produced a top-class world champion, but also names like Felix Gall and Quinn Simmons are now respected pros. On the other hand, we also see Jakob Egholm and Jonas Bokeloh, of whom we have heard very little lately.
The same story among the women, where Amalie Dideriksen, Chloe Dygert and Elisa Balsamo now have world titles at the elite level to their names. Laura Stigger, world champion in 2018, rode her last race in 2021. She is now focusing on mountain biking. Last year Emil Herzog won in the men's category and Zoe Backstedt in the women's.
Practical information Cycling World Championships junior men and women 2023
- Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023
- Participants
- Classification: WC
In this article
- Most recent winners
- Course, weather and times
- Favorites
- TV information
Latest winners Cycling Junior World Championships
2022 Emil Herzog / Zoe Backstedt
2021 Per Strand Hagenes / Zoe Backstedt
2020 Not ridden
2019 Quinn Simmons / Megan Jastrab
2018 Remco Evenepoel / Laura Stigger
2017 Julius Johansen / Elena Pirrone
2016 Jakob Egholm / Elisa Balsamo
2015 Felix Gall / Chloe Dygert
2014 Jonas Bokeloh / Amalie Dideriksen
2013 Mathieu van der Poel / Amalie Dideriksen
2021 Per Strand Hagenes / Zoe Backstedt
2019 Quinn Simmons / Megan Jastrab
2018 Remco Evenepoel / Laura Stigger
2017 Julius Johansen / Elena Pirrone
2016 Jakob Egholm / Elisa Balsamo
2015 Felix Gall / Chloe Dygert
2014 Jonas Bokeloh / Amalie Dideriksen
2013 Mathieu van der Poel / Amalie Dideriksen
World Junior Cycling Championship 2023: Course, weather and times
The elite men start in Edinburgh, the women and U23 in Loch Lomond and the juniors in... Glasgow. They are the only ones who stay only on the local circuit in the Scottish city, with distances of 70 (women) and 127 (men) kilometers. This means that the ladies complete five rounds of 14.3 kilometers and the young men cross the finish line nine times. Start and finish are on George Square.
What does that lap look like exactly? More like a cyclocross course, with no less than 42 (!) bends in it. Turning, reversing, accelerating, and paying very close attention: those are going to be some of the key factors on the fourteen-kilometer loop in Glasgow, which in this way resembles an average Flemish cyclocross race.
The seven hills of the city circuit, though short-ranging between 150 and 500 meters, boast an imposing steepness. Montrose Street, a critical point in the 2013 European Championships claimed by Matteo Trentin, is a prime example. This compact incline, shy of 200 meters yet with a gruelling gradient of 13 percent, presents a formidable challenge in the race's second-to-last kilometer. It's no surprise that the organizers highlight this as a pivotal ascent.
Once cyclists crest the hill, they face a stretch of less than one and a half kilometers to the George Square finish line, punctuated by a number of challenging twists and turns. The final 500 meters are particularly demanding, featuring two sharp right-angle bends, before riders can give it their all in the last 400 meters that are completely straight.
Weather
A lot of rain is expected in Glasgow on Saturday, throughout the whole day. The wind blows at a strength of three on the Beaufort scale from the northeast, and it is not too warm either at 15 degrees Celsius.
A lot of rain is expected in Glasgow on Saturday, throughout the whole day. The wind blows at a strength of three on the Beaufort scale from the northeast, and it is not too warm either at 15 degrees Celsius.
Times
Start junior women: 10:00 a.m.
Finish junior women: approximately 12:00 p.m.
Start junior men: 1:00 p.m.
Finish junior men: approximately 4:00 p.m.
Finish junior women: approximately 12:00 p.m.
Start junior men: 1:00 p.m.
Finish junior men: approximately 4:00 p.m.
Favorites World cycling junior women 2023
Last year, Zoe Backstedt was the standout favorite in the junior women's race, but this year the field appears more open. This creates a more challenging task to gauge everyone's strength. British rider Cat Ferguson, this year's Tour of Flanders for juniors winner, is a notable contender. Britain also fields additional strong competitors in the forms of Imogen Wolff and Izzy Sharp.
The Dutch and Belgian female competitors are more in the underdog category. Fee Knaven, Silje Bader, Zoë van Velzen and cyclocross racer Lauren Molengraaf have potential to make significant headway on this course. The same potential is held by Fleur Moors, Xaydee Van Sinaey and Lora De Schepper from the Belgian contingent.
Italy pins its hopes on Federica Venturelli, yet Sara Piffer and Marta Pavesi are no slouches when it comes to cycling. The same holds true for France's trio Julie Bego, Ema Conte and Célia Gery, Denmark's Alberte Greve, Spain's Ayala Serrano, the Czech Republic's Elisa Kvasnickova and Germany's Hannah Kunz.
Hailing from across the seas are Samantha Scott (United States), cyclocrosser Isabella Holmgren (Canada), and Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (Australia). However, it's worth noting that, of all the World Championship events, this road race remains the most unpredictable.
Favorites Cycling World Championships Junior Women 2023, according to IDLProCycling.com
Top favorites: Cat Ferguson (Great Britain) and Federica Venturelli (Italy)
Outsiders: Izzy Sharp (Great Britain), Célie Gery (France), Xaydee Van Sinaey (Belgium) and Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (Australia)
Long shots: Imogen Wolff (Great Britain), Fleur Moors (Belgium), Fee Knaven, Silje Bader (Netherlands), Ema Conte, Julie Bego (France), Isabella Holmgren (Canada) and Elisa Kvasnickova (Czech Republic)
Outsiders: Izzy Sharp (Great Britain), Célie Gery (France), Xaydee Van Sinaey (Belgium) and Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (Australia)
Long shots: Imogen Wolff (Great Britain), Fleur Moors (Belgium), Fee Knaven, Silje Bader (Netherlands), Ema Conte, Julie Bego (France), Isabella Holmgren (Canada) and Elisa Kvasnickova (Czech Republic)
Favorites Cycling World Championships Junior Men 2023
In the men's competition, there are traditionally a few upcoming talents who are likely to make headlines in the future. For instance, the Belgian team includes Sente Sentjens, the son of former professional Roy Sentjens, who will be joining Alpecin-Deceuninck in 2024. Alongside him is his compatriot, Steffen De Schuyteneer, renowned for his speedy legs. The Belgian squad also boasts Jarno Widar, who was victorious in this year's Tour of Flanders for juniors.
The Dutch team also has its sights set on a robust performance in Glasgow. Thom van der Werff, Sjors Lugthart and Senna Remijn are expected to be key players during the crucial stages, although they will be facing anything but an easy contest. Besides the Belgians, the French team draws attention too, featuring Paul Seixas, Matys Grisel and Aubin Sparfel - three of the top competitors in their line-up.
Scandinavians traditionally excel in the younger categories, which bodes well for Jørgen Nordhagen, the part-time cross-country skier who already signed a professional contract with Jumbo-Visma for 2025. Another strong Norwegian contender is Kasper Haugland. Representing Denmark's aspirations are Patrick Boje Frydkjær, Theodor Storm, and Albert Withen Philipsen. Also in the mix is Kasper Borremans, an intriguing competitor from Finland.
Throughout this season, Australian Oscar Chamberlain, the winner of the Watersley Challenge, and American Andrew August have been regularly seen among the top performers in the junior circuit. Britain's Tomos Pattinson, who competes side by side with Ben Wiggins, emerged as the best at the junior edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. Along with Wiggins and Sentjes, sons of famous former pro cyclists, Erazem Valjavec (Slovenia), and Markel Beloki (Spain) are also participating.
Rounding up the list, riders from some of the 'traditional' cycling nations are also in the mix: Italians Luca Giaimi and Simone Gualdi, Germans Louis Leidert and Paul Fietzke, and Swiss Ilian Alexandere Barhoumi. However, much like the women's race, forecasting the exact progression of such a unique World Championships remains a challenging task!
Favorites World cycling junior men 2023, according to In the Leader's Jersey
Top favorites: Jørgen Nordhagen (Norway) and Matys Grisel (France)
Outsiders: Sente Sentjens (Belgium), Paul Seixas (France), Oscar Chamberlain (Australia) and Andrew August (United States)
Long shots: Senna Remijn (Netherlands), Jarno Widar (Belgium), Aubin Sparfel (France), Simone Gualdi (Italy), Patrick Boje Frydkjær (Denmark), Markel Beloki (Spain), Paul Fietzke (Germany), Ilian Alexandere Barhoumi (Switzerland) and Tomos Pattinson (Great Britain)
Outsiders: Sente Sentjens (Belgium), Paul Seixas (France), Oscar Chamberlain (Australia) and Andrew August (United States)
Long shots: Senna Remijn (Netherlands), Jarno Widar (Belgium), Aubin Sparfel (France), Simone Gualdi (Italy), Patrick Boje Frydkjær (Denmark), Markel Beloki (Spain), Paul Fietzke (Germany), Ilian Alexandere Barhoumi (Switzerland) and Tomos Pattinson (Great Britain)
TV World cycling championship juniors men and women 2023
The junior races can be followed on Saturday via Sporza (VRT 1) and all Eurosport platforms. IDLProCycling.com will be on the spot for updates from Glasgow!
IDL-productions
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Latest Comments
- Such negative comments that are truly inappropriate and actually ridiculous. He sounds like an old man, bitter that he can't race anymore. Why can't he just be gracious? Or just shut up. Instead of howling for attention, in such a rude manner. Must be Dementia creeping in. We are all living in the Now. Records are there, and some are being broken, some are unapproachable. If he doesn't like it, and it makes him sick, maybe he ought start watching some other sport. Don't want the old mans health to be upset.
reemmo031-03-2025 - Roger De Vlaeminck inspires me to create a new beer: "Bitter Old Twat Belgian".JackInhof31-03-2025
- Shoot, I'll ride it for 1/10 of what his pay for that day is😅Veganpotter30-03-2025
- What is this? The Lance Armstrong daily cheaters channel? I could care less about Johan and Lance the seven times cheater. Greg Lemond was right all along, Why don't you write about that instead of these two knuckleheads.velodrone28-03-2025
- Are we all doomed to hear from Lance Armstrong and Johan bruneel until the end of time? It's not enough the stain they left on cycling? Do we have to see that shadow forever?bigyakman26-03-2025
- I am not sure if it is the hardest to win. In Flanders and Roubaix well before the finish the Peleton will be decimated and the race will normally be won by the best rider of the day or maybe 2nd or 3rd in case of a mechanical or unlucky break especially in case of Roubaix. In San Remo just before the finish there will still be several riders in contention and they are hard to ditch. For the best riders it is a race hard to win since it is not so selective. But if you are not a top 5 rider but still a top 10 rider this race is your best change to win. You will see more Milan San remo Winners with only 1 monument win than any other monumentsJoostmehrtens19-03-2025
- "fap fap fap oh Lance oh oh OHHHHHHH" again. Does he pay you to dredge up people with nice things to say about him? He was an giant a$$hole to people. It is a fact. Whatever his contrition about the doping, he is unapologetic about being a giant a$$hole to people. (Why yes, I do only login to complain. *I* am however only a giant a$$hole to people who laud giant a$$holes.)ericjensenridesbikes25-02-2025
- Remco is still very young. And injuries can absolutely keep you from overdoing it and getting worse. The recent Remco accident didn't keep him from being able to ride a recumbent inside. Wout's knee is a different story thoughVeganpotter23-01-2025
- Van der Poel style is winning by a half a lap and leading the race from the end of the second lap.
Barnes127420-01-2025 - If she thinks talent alone will put her there she will not see many podium finishes much less a GC finish.....work as a team utilizing tactics to consistently be at the top.Germanrazor10-01-2025