CYCLING – A GROUP of Team Bahrain Victorious riders were crowned champions – with several teammates also climbing the podium – in their respective national cycling events held over the past week.
The series of top competitions held across Europe concluded with Bahrain Victorious celebrating a new road race national champion in Slovenia, as Roman Ermakov claimed a brilliant solo victory in Gaberje after 165 kilometres, spending almost 100km alone off the front.
The 21-year-old took over the Slovenian champion’s jersey from his teammate Jakob Omrzel, who finished second at two minutes and 52 seconds behind.
“Honestly, it feels super strange,” said Ermakov. “Obviously, we came here to win and keep the title within our brilliant team, and it didn’t matter which one of us won. Everyone was ready to give 100 per cent to deliver that result.
“In the end, it came down to me, which feels a bit surreal because I went on my own with something like 100km to go, maybe even more.
“I didn’t expect much from myself; I just wanted to create a good situation for us. With me ahead, Jakob, our leader, could just stay protected with the other guys while the chase happened behind me, and then make his move. But in the end, I made it all the way to the finish line.
“Even as the gap was growing, I didn’t truly believe it, to be honest. I didn’t want to ease up until the last 100m, and when the sports director called from the car telling me to just enjoy it, I still couldn’t believe it. It’s still hard to take in.”
Ermakov and Omrzel had already stood on the podium earlier in the week after finishing second and third, respectively, in the Slovenian time trial championship. On the 28.7km course around Karteljevo, Primoz Roglic of Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe claimed the national title.
Bahrain Victorious also celebrated a new national champion against the clock, as Alec Segaert secured the Belgian time trial title. Due to the extreme heat, the race was shortened from two laps of 41.4km apiece to a single 20.7km circuit around Etikhove.
Segaert stopped the clock in 24:56, six seconds faster than Tim Wellens of UAE Team Emirates-XRG, while teammate Vlad Van Mechelen completed a Bahrain Victorious double podium by taking third place, 14 seconds behind.
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