The 27-year-old Belgian with Team Wilier won after 95 kilometers in 4 hours 28 minutes and 40 seconds ahead of the Italian Fabian Rabensteiner, reigning champion, 2nd at 2:11. German Simon Schneller took 3rd place at 4:52.
Among women, the victory went to the German Adelheid Morath in 4h27:14 crowned ahead of the French Estelle Morel, 2nd at 5:17. The Swiss Irina Luetzelschwab completes the podium in 8:25.
Source: Wilier Pirelli press release
One of those days to remember in the history of Wilier Triestina Pirelli Factory Team: on the one hand Wout Alleman wins the European Marathon Championship, on the other Sofie Pedersen takes her second XCO Under23 World Cup win consolidating his leader jersey. And she didn't end there…
The busy Sunday of Wilier Triestina Pirelli Factory Team was divided between Laissac (France) where the XCM European Championship e Lenzerheide (Switzerland) where the second stage of the XCO World Cup.
In France there were Fabian Rabensteiner, ready to defend the title of European champion conquered in 2022, Wout Alleman, Daniel Geismayr and Samuele Porro. All four with a really top form condition and this was seen from the first kilometers of the race when there were three athletes at the head of the group Wilier Triestina Pirelli to make the beat: Rabensteiner, German e Geismayr.
Until -30 from the finish, the three athletes always remained in the first positions, with Leek who was part of the leading group, which at that point saw all 4 of the team's standard-bearers fighting for victory.
20 km from the finish line German launch an attack and only Rabensteiner manages to hold the wheel. The two teammates pick up the pace and manage to take an advantage of almost a minute.
Wout today was one of those days where everything works great and his pace was too high for Fabian, which comes off slightly.
After 95 km Wout Alleman only shows up at the finish line, becoming European Marathon 2023 Champion. In second place Fabian Rabensteiner, satisfied with second place and happy that the jersey went on the shoulders of his teammate.
Shortly after a small group of 5 athletes shows up on the finish line, among them Samuel Porro who rushes into the sprint for third place, unfortunately he can't overtake two opponents and has to settle for an excellent fifth place. A little further behind comes Daniel Geismayr, ninth overall. The Wilier Triestina Pirelli Factory Team confirm you are there strongest XCM training in Europe with 4 athletes in the top 9 at the 2023 European Championship.
"Today was a very tough race, but I think it was the best possible course for me. I felt very confident in myself and in the work done to get here. I'm really happy, I attacked in the final stages and from then on I went full gas to the finish line. I'm over the moon, still can't believe it!"- Wout Alleman
"A tough race, we were left with three mates in front and on the last climb it was just me and Wout, but today my partner was really too strong and when he opened the gas I couldn't keep up with him so I continued with my pace. I tried to defend the jersey, but I'm also happy that the title stayed with the team. We had first and second course, we could hardly ask for better"- Fabian Rabensteiner
