Mads Würtz Schmidt and Erica Magnaldi claimed the elite races at the UEC Gravel European Championships in Avezzano, with the Danish rider winning the men's competition with a dominant display while Magnaldi captured the home nation win after a turn of fortunes in the final kilometres of the women's event.
2024 Unbound winner Rosa Klöser (Germany) had long been leading the 88.8km race, having carved out a gap of more than two minutes to her nearest rivals, Magnaldi and Sophie Wright (Great Britain). However, at 8km to go a puncture slowed the German's run and while she tried to limp to the line with a damaged wheel, which she said was like riding on ice, Klöser was caught by the two chasers with 400m to go.
