European Championships Men U23, Hector Álvarez Martínez wins the European title in Ljubljana

European Championships Men U23, Hector Álvarez Martínez wins the European title in Ljubljana European Championships Men U23, Hector Álvarez Martínez wins the European title in Ljubljana Hector Álvarez Martínez is the new European road race champion in the Men Under 23 category. The Spanish rider claimed the title at the 2026 European Road Championships in Ljubljana after a demanding race. Álvarez Martínez crossed the finish line in 3:02:22, 20 seconds ahead of Poland's Jan Jackowiak. Belgium's Niels Driesen took the bronze medal, 32 seconds behind the winner. Max Bock finished fourth at 37 seconds, while Italy's Mattia Negrente was fifth, 49 seconds behind the European champion. Daan Dijkman, Matisse Van Kerckhove and Erazem Valjavec completed the next positions. Among the other Italian riders, Michele Bicelli finished 13th, Roberto Capello 29th, Stefano Masciarelli 38th, Nicolas Milesi 47th and Simone Zanini 63rd. The official results recorded 92 classified finishers, with 11 riders outside the time limit, 36 DNFs and one DNS. Spain therefore takes the European Under 23 title, with Álvarez Martínez finishing ahead of Jackowiak and Driesen in Ljubljana.