The Union Européenne de Cyclisme (UEC) introduced as we speak that every one races scheduled on Saturday, November 4, for the European Cyclo-cross Championships could be moved to Sunday, attributable to excessive climate situations anticipated to return to the western France in a single day.
Rescheduled for Sunday in Pont-Château are the occasions for Junior Ladies, U23 Males and Elite Ladies, which shall be mixed for a full day of racing with Junior Males, U23 Ladies and Elite Males. Rescheduled for Sunday in Pont-Château are the occasions for Junior Ladies, U23 Males and Elite Ladies, which shall be mixed with three different classes. The Junior Ladies will start at 9:00 native time, adopted by Junior Males and U23 Ladies for the morning programme. The U23 males will start the afternoon set of races at 12:50, adopted by the Elite Ladies at 14:00 and Elite Males at 15:10.
The measures have been taken after native authorities within the Loire-Atlantique division, the place Pont-Château is positioned, “decreed that no occasions could be held tomorrow (4 Nov.)”, organisers mentioned.
A significant climate system, Storm Ciarán, whipped throughout western Europe on Thursday and left behind two deaths and 16 individuals injured in north-west France, based on the Related Press, in addition to flooding, energy outages and main journey congestion throughout a number of nations alongside the Atlantic coast.
Whereas Pont-Château is positioned some 40km inland from the shoreline, it nonetheless felt impacts from excessive excessive winds and journey delays on Thursday, with Brittany to the north reporting gusts to 190 kph on the coast and 160 kph on the close by Normandy coast.
The solar was out for racing on Friday for the Combined Staff Relay, however the unstable climate system was anticipated to recharge in a single day. The precautions have been put in place in order to not compromise athletes and spectators with anticipated wind gusts to 85 kph or greater Saturday.
Solely 5 groups took the course Friday afternoon with six riders every for the Staff Relay – Nice Britain, Belgium, France, Italy and Czech Republic – the order set from every nation’s end from the identical occasion held in February on the Cyclocross World Championships in Hoogerheide. Nice Britain took the silver and Belgium the bronze at Worlds, whereas the gold medal winner, Netherlands opted to not compete on the Continental Championships within the occasion.
Among the many prime athletes anticipated to compete on Sunday embrace defending elite champions Fem van Empel (Jumbo-Visma) and Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen–Bingoal). After the inaugural group relay on Friday, six extra European champions shall be topped on the ultimate day of racing with the adjusted schedule.
Because of the excessive climate situations forecast in Western France, the native authorities (Prefet de la Loire-Atlantique) have decreed that no occasions could be held tomorrow (4 Nov.).All #EuroCross23 occasions will now be rescheduled for SundayA new schedule shall be introduced quickly.November 3, 2023