13 national titles

This championships week has been very successful for AG Insurance-Soudal Quick-Step. On Sunday we crowned two more champions. Marthe Goossens was second in the Belgian elite championships and wins the U23 title. In Estonia U23-rider Laura Lizette Sander became the national elite champion. Julia Borgström raced to the U23 title in Sweden on Saturday night.

“I didn’t expect this,” said Marthe after the finish in Izegem. “I had done one Belgian national championship before and I knew it’s a special race. There are always attacks and that was also our strategy. We really wanted a hard race. At a certain moment I was alone and no one would join me. I was afraid that attack would cost me my legs but on the last laps I could recover.

In the final sprint I was boxed in at a kilometer to go. Luckily, I did see a gap and followed Kopecky’s wheel. Lotte is so strong and I knew I couldn’t beat her but I was happy no one passed me. I always had this explosive sprint but I learned so much more tactically. Having Jolien behind me makes such a difference. She gives me confidence and peace of mind."

In Estonia the three Baltic Countries Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia raced together. In Lithuania Laura Lizette took home the elite title for Estonia, like she did in the time trial too.

“It was a 106-kilometer-long race,” she said. “There were some small climbs and cobblestones. I knew I had it in me to win this race. On the local laps there were only a few riders left and I won that sprint. Last year I had two junior titles and now as a first-year elite I have two elite titles. I am really happy with those.”

In Sweden the championships were moved from Uppsala to a former race track because of permit problems. That meant the race was pan flat. Not really the terrain for Julia Borgström but she did really well. She finished third in the elite race and wins the U23 title.

“I had COVID before so I wasn’t even sure I could start this race. Until quite late it was also even not certain we would actually race. Swedish Cycling had a quick solution and we raced on the track. I am happy with this result but sad we missed out on racing through Uppsala.”

AG Insurance-Soudal Quick Step also won a bronze medal with Romy Kasper. She was elated that exactly ten years after her last medal at the German national championships she could step onto the podium again, especially after having some bad luck in the time trial.

Gaia Masetti was on the attack all day in a really hilly Italian national championships in Trentino. She was caught but fought on and wins the bronze medal for U23 riders.