In Europe there was a Belgian doubleheader with Meulebeke and Ronse. The always impressive Ellen van Loy took 2nd place behind the World Champion in Meulebeke. In the men’s race, Eli Iserbyt took a strong 4th place behind the dominant duo of van der Poel and van Aert. On Sunday in Ronse Ellen van Loy took 5th place behind world cup leader Vos.

Further south in Europe, France and Switzerland were the destinations for many riders as they took on Lutterbach (France) and Aigle (Switzerland). Steve Chainel took 3rd place in Lutterbach on Saturday, with Helen Wyman finishing 2nd in the Elite women’s race. On Sunday in Switzerland it was 3rd for Helen in the grounds of the UCI in Aigle with Steve just missing the podium in 4th place.

In Belfast, Northern Ireland the first ever UCI cyclocross was held with a win for Maria Larkin in the women’s race and David Conroy taking the win in the men’s race. Challenge extended support to the event and hope the event can establish itself on the calendar as the sport continues to grow in Ireland.