The first day of the European Championships was reserved for the master categories, which offered a total spectacle. Four competitions with all the senior categories enjoyed a temperature above 20 degrees and sunny weather.
At 10:00 a.m., the first of the heats, the most numerous in the categories, started, with nine continental titles at stake. The second heat decided five more champions from 11:00 onwards. At 13:30, the third heat started with the 45-49 and 50-54 masters, while at 15:00 the last race was held for the 35-39 and 40-44 masters championships.
None of the four rounds disappointed with several championships that gave excitement until the end, and that were not defined until the last lap, making the public gathered at the circuit enjoy the best cyclo-cross in Europe and that will serve as the starting point of an unforgettable weekend for Pontevedra.
As for the new European Champions, in master 35-39 the Frenchwoman Emilie Petithory and the Spaniard Iñaki Carro won; in master 40-44 the Estonian Sille Puhu and the Frenchman Valentin Cosnier won; in masters 45-49 the victories have been for the Spaniards Felisa Ares and Isaac Suárez; in masters 50-54 the victories have been for the French Maryline Vassal and the Spanish Jordi Reñé; in masters 55-59 there have been double Spanish triumphs with Teresa Infante and Joan Antoni Asensio; in masters 60-64, Suzie Goddart from Luxembourg and Marcial Rodríguez from Galicia won the gold medals; in masters 65-69, Peter Meerburg from the Netherlands and Carina Börjesson from Sweden won their races; in masters 70-74 the victories went to the Spanish Juan Mariano Bárcena and the French Christine Dufond; in masters 75-79 the new European champion will be the Spanish José Simaes and in masters 80+ the British Victor Barnett, the oldest participant of the European Championships, has climbed to the top of the podium.
Enrico della Casa, president of the European Cycling Union; Delmino Pereira, president of the Portuguese Cycling Federation and vice-president of the UEC; Alfonso Villares, Conselleiro do Mar de la Xunta de Galicia; Anabel Gulías, concelleira de deportes del Concello de Pontevedra and Juan Carlos Muñiz, president of the Federación Ciclismo Galego were present at the award ceremony.
In addition, attendees were able to enjoy the Expo Zone with all the brands and exhibitors, as well as the Gastro Wristbands to eat and drink at the food and beverage stands set up next to the circuit.
This Saturday, the European Championships will continue in Pontevedra with the Team Relay event at 15h in which the national teams of Spain, France, Italy and Czech Republic will compete. The race can be followed live on streaming through the Youtube channel of the Federación Ciclismo Galego.