Hélène Hesters, the Belgian rider from Liv AlUla Jayco’s Continental Team enjoyed great success on Sunday having won a gold medal in the madison at the European track cycling championships (U23) in the German city of Cottbus.
Together with her madison partner Katrijn De Clercq, 19-year-old Hesters rode an extremely strong race and the Belgian duo kept it thrilling until the very end. The two headed into the final with the same number of laps as their closest rivals and collected 30 points in total; four more than the duo from Great Britain who went home with the silver medal.
“We knew beforehand that we were among the favourites, but of course anything can happen in the race. The British, for example, are also traditionally always very strong,” Hesters said. “We always wanted to get involved in the intermediate sprints, which worked out well. The win in the final sprint was the decisive factor, as that’s where double points can be earned. There we were fortunately too strong for Great Britain and so we were able to make the difference.”
The Liv AlUla Jayco Continental team rider expressed her job of gaining the European title. “This gives a fantastic feeling. I have noticed all season that I am getting stronger; this win is a confirmation of that. I am also happy for my madison partner Katrijn De Clercq. It is her last time competing in the U23 category and we wanted to end that period well for her.”
There’s no time to celebrate the win for Hesters as the Belgian talent from has also qualified for the Olympics in Paris (track cycling – madison) and now has her sights set on that. “We are only 25 days away from the Olympics, so we are taking it easy now. Obviously, we are not taking the risk that we can get sick.”
Liv AlUla Jayco can look back on a successful European track cycling championships, not only with the gold medal from Hesters but in another Liv AlUla Jayco Continental team rider Leila Gschwentner seized a silver medal (U23) in the individual pursuit in her Austrian jersey on Tuesday.
European championships track cycling (madison):
1. Belgium – 30 points
2. Great Britain – 26 points
3. Germany – 25 points
