6 Riders to keep an eye on at the Euros

The European championships. That time of the year that riders from between the Atlantic Ocean and the Ural Mountains come together to divide the stars jerseys between them. This year, the riders will take part in six different categories. Three different age classes for the two genders. Today, we highlight one rider for each of these categories. Not necessarily always the top favourite, but a rider who had a special year or a remarkable background story that you can tell about to your friends or family when you're enjoying the races together, in this week of cycling.

Juniors

Milana Ushakova - Ukraine 

Winning against pro riders at the age of 17. Very few riders are able to do that, but it was no issue for the young Ukrainian. She escaped with another rider, stayed in front of the chasing peloton and won the sprint for the victory. In the months after, she kept collecting top 10 spots in elite races and she also did well in the Juniors Watersley Challenge & the European Track Championships. The double national champion is ready to set a decent result at the Euros, even that she prefers a hilliers parcours herself.

Paul Seixas - France

Is there a more dominant rider, this season? Only in August, this 17 years old Frenchman couldn't win a race. It will be interesting to see if he can also reward his season by an European stars jersey on a way flatter parcours then he's used to. Can he & his strong French squad make it a hard race and make the difference or will it be a struggle to avoid a sprint? Problably a lot of other nations will look at Paul Seixas & his squad to determine their own strategy in the race.

U23

Camilla Ranes Bye - Norway

It's been an interesting year for Camilla Ranes Bye. She gained experience in the World Tour cobble classics and she became a consistent sprinter in the 1.1 races. A combination of these experiences should make her able to go for a good result at the U23 races. The still only 19 years old riders will be among the youngest riders in the race but already proved to be more than competitive. Can she also score her first top 10 spot at an international championship?

Alec Segaert - Belgium

Finishing runner-up in a World Tour stage race. Only very few riders in this field can say that. Alec Segaert did it just a week ago. The young Belgian was already known as a good time trialist but he also didn't capitulate in the hilly final stage of the Renewi Tour as well. Winning solo won't be easy but the other teams will certainly look at him if he decides to set up an iniative. One of the key riders within the Belgian block to trigger a selective race.

Elite

Blanka Vas - Hungary

After a 4th place at the Worlds and at the Olympics before, now Blanka Vas can use this opportunity to move up on the podium this time. The Hungarian rider who only turned 23 recently boosted her confidence with her first Tour de France stage victory this Summer. She's often absent in finals of big one day races because of other demands by her teams, but in the shirt of Hungary, she can ride completely for herself and chase another good result in her national kit. Can she again go to the line with a small group and chase the stars jersey this time?

Rien Schuurhuis - Vatican City

You might hear some Latin in Limburg, this month. Just a few weeks before the Pope visits Belgium, the Vatican already sends a representative to Belgium. The 42 years old rider who was born in Groningue already gained some attention at the Worlds before and is now lining-up at an easier parcours. Can he make it again into an early breakaway? or hold on even longer? Only God knows.