The 2026 European Road Cycling Championships open on October 3 and 4 in Slovenia, featuring elite road races scheduled just one week after the World Championships in Montréal and ahead of the Giro di Lombardia on October 10. indeleiderstrui.nl reported the provisional start list for the event, which includes Remco Evenepoel for Belgium, Primož Roglič for Slovenia, and Mads Pedersen for Denmark.
Tadej Pogacar is not included in the Slovenian selection for the championships, sporza.be reported. The reigning European champion was spotted in his home country riding on the course in his European champion’s jersey alongside his partner Urska Zigart and Danish rider Mikkel Honoré, as shown in images shared on social media by Zigart.
Slovenian Selection Omits Uittingredende Kampioen
While photographs posted from Ljubljana by Urska Zigart sparked online rumors of a potential start, sporza.be confirmed that Pogacar’s participation is ruled out. The Sloveen is still recovering from a severe crash sustained during the Vuelta, where he suffered a concussion, a broken collarbone, and a broken neck vertebra. He ended his season following those injuries, having already relinquished his rainbow jersey and losing the right to wear his European star jersey starting Sunday.
Slovenia’s official roster instead fields Gal Glivar, Matevž Govekar, Luka Mezgec, Matej Mohorič, Domen Novak, Jakob Omrzel, Primož Roglič, and Jan Tratnik, according to indeleiderstrui.nl.
National Rosters for the Elite Road Races
Belgium enters the competition with Jenno Berckmoes, Sander De Pestel, Ramses Debruyne, Remco Evenepoel, Quinten Hermans, Maxim Van Gils, Ilan Van Wilder, and Louis Vervaeke. France brings a squad comprising Alex Baudin, Julien Bernard, Léo Bisiaux, Clément Braz Afonso, Romain Grégoire, Mathys Rondel, Pavel Sivakov, and Kévin Vauquelin.
Denmark’s lineup features Kasper Asgreen, Mikkel Bjerg, Anthon Charmig, Peter Øxenberg, Mikkel Frølich Honoré, Andreas Kron, Mads Pedersen, and Frederik Wandahl. Italy is represented by Giulio Ciccone, Ludovico Crescioli, Alessandro Fancellu, Marco Frigo, Giulio Pellizzari, Alessandro Pinarello, Christian Scaroni, and Diego Ulissi.
The Netherlands selects Sjoerd Bax, Tijmen Graat, Jochem Kerckhaert, Gijs Leemreize, Alex Molenaar, Wout Poels, Senna Remijn, and Jardi Christiaan Van Der Lee. Switzerland fields Fabio Christen, Jan Christen, Valentin Darbellay, Marc Hirschi, and Fabian Weiss.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2026 European Championships
When and where do the elite road races take place?
The elite road races run on October 3 and 4, 2026, in Slovenia, following the World Championships in Montréal and preceding the Giro di Lombardia in Northern Italy on October 10.
Why is Tadej Pogacar not competing in Slovenia?
sporza.be reported that Pogacar is recovering from a concussion, a broken collarbone, and a broken neck vertebra sustained in a crash during the Vuelta.
Which riders represent Belgium at the event?
indeleiderstrui.nl listed Jenno Berckmoes, Sander De Pestel, Ramses Debruyne, Remco Evenepoel, Quinten Hermans, Maxim Van Gils, Ilan Van Wilder, and Louis Vervaeke for the Belgian team.
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