Ellen van Dijk claimed gold in the women's road race ©Getty Images

Ellen van Dijk became the fifth Dutch winner of the women’s elite road race in six races at the European Cycling Union (UEC) Road Championships in Trentino.

Van Dijk featured in a strong Dutch team in Italy, with defending champion Annemiek van Vleuten and former winners Marianne Vos and Amy Pieters also taking to the start line.

The race featured a challenging 13.2-kilometre circuit, which riders had to complete eight times.

Van Dijk opted to join a breakaway containing France’s Aude Biannic, Italy’s Soraya Paladin and Romy Kasper of Germany.

Biannic and Kasper were dropped as the climbs took their toll in the 107.2km race.

Van Dijk attacked on the Povo climb as the race approached its final 20km, with Paladin’s resistance ending.

The four-time European time trial gold medallist stayed clear for the remainder of the race to clinch the road race title for the first time, ending in a winning time of 2 hours 50min 35sec.

The remnants of the breakaway were caught by the chasing pack, who were led across the line by Liane Lippert.

The German rider claimed silver by finishing 1:18 behind the winner.

Lippert was one of seven riders to receive the same time, with Lithuania’s Rasa Leleivyte able to celebrate a podium spot after sprinting to bronze.

Ellen van Dijk added the road race gold to four European time trial titles ©Getty Images
Ellen van Dijk added the road race gold to four European time trial titles ©Getty Images

Belgium’s Thibau Nys triumphed in the men’s under-23 road race, adding to his junior cyclo-cross world title from 2020.

Nys sprinted to victory from a seven-rider lead group at the conclusion of the 133km race, crossing the line in 3:06:57.

The 18-year-old denied the host nation gold, with Italy’s Filippo Baroncini left settling for silver and Spain’s Juan Ayuso Pesquera winning bronze.

Italy celebrated gold in the women’s under-23 race yesterday, with Silvia Zanardi winning the event in a time of 2:11:15.

Hungary’s Kata Blanka Vas and France’s Évita Muzic completed the podium, after both clocking 2:11:17.

Germany’s Linda Riedmann won the junior women’s road race in a time of 1:53:09, edging out Eleonora Ciabocco of Italy in a sprint finish.

France’s Eglantine Rayer finished as the bronze medallist in 1:53:11.

The men’s junior road race saw France’s Romain Grégoire claim gold in a sprint finish, ending in 2:35:42.

Norway’s Per Strand Hagenes and France’s Lenny Martinez ended on the same time as the winner in second and third respectively.