The European Cycling Union (UEC) has revealed the top names set to participate in cycling events at the European Games Krakow-Malopolska 2023.
Cycling will be present on the Games programme with BMX and Mountain Bike. The BMX Freestyle Park events will take place on 21 and 22 June in the brand new Krzeszowice skatepark, while the Mountain Bike Cross-Country races will be held at Hill Park in Krynica-Zdroj on 25 June. Paris 2024 qualification points will be on offer in both disciplines.
The BMX Freestyle start lists include reigning Olympic Champion Charlotte Worthington (Great Britain & N.I) alongside fellow Tokyo 2020 medallists Declan Brooks (Great Britain & N.I) and Nikita Ducarroz (Switerland). Three medallists from the 2022 UCI Urban Cycling World Championship will also be among the competitors: Ducarroz and Iveta Miculyčová (Czech Republic) for the women and Anthony Jeanjean (France) in the men’s field. Others to watch will include Kieran Reilly (Great Britain & N.I), Kim Lea Muller (Germany) and Laury Perez (France.)
Entries in Mountain Bike are equally impressive, including the three podium finishers in the women’s event at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020: Jolanda Neff, Sina Frei and Linda Indergand, all from Switerland. They will face competition from reigning European champion Loana Lecomte (France) as well as the up-and-coming Mona Mitterwallner (Austria) and a strong Dutch contingent comprising Anne Terpstra, Celyn Del Carmen Alvarado, Puck Pieterse and Fem Van Empel, the current World and European Cyclo-Cross Champion. Multiple national champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (France) could also pose a medal threat.
UEC President Enrico Della Casa said: “These Games are an important opportunity to celebrate sporting excellence and unity between European countries through sport.
“We are looking forward to awarding the Mountain Bike and BMX Freestyle European titles at this major event, disciplines that are on the Olympic programme and which throughout their history have enthused cycling fans and others and will be broadcast to the European public thanks to the extensive TV coverage of the Krakow-Małopolska Games.
“I would like to thank the European Olympic Committee, its President Spyros Capralos, the Secretary General Raffaele Pagnozzi, and the Organising Committee for giving us this extraordinary opportunity. I am certain that these Games will be unforgettable in the history of European cycling and will leave a lasting impression on all those involved.
“I would also like to thank all the athletes, Olympic Committees and National Federations and hope that the 2023 European Games will be celebration of sport and friendship with sport’s great power to unify.”
