Zoe Backstedt sprints to the line in the British Cycling National Road Race Championships in Wales

National champs round-up: Kelderman ends 11-year wait as Cort wins on retirement send-off

Wilco Kelderman's emotional solo victory in the Netherlands, Shari Bossuyt's second win over Lotte Kopecky in 2026, and 20-year-old Célia Gery's French breakthrough led a weekend of overdue victories and upsets across European national road race championships.

By Tim Bonville-Ginn · · 5 min read

The national road championships over the weekend produced some fantastic races with surprise winners, emotional victories and the usual expected continuations with some surprises bigger than others.

Wilco Kelderman (Visma | Lease a Bike) soloed to the Dutch road title after an 11-year drought since his last win, Shari Bossuyt (AG Insurance-Soudal) outsprinted Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) to take her first senior Belgian title, a 20-year-old Célia Gery added the French title to a 2026 season that already included Brabantse Pijl and a Giro d'Italia stage win.

2026 National Road Race Champions

Selected major titles from the weekend

Velora
Country
Men's Champion
Women's Champion
BelgiumRune HerregodtsShari Bossuyt
DenmarkMagnus CortAmalie Dideriksen
FranceRomain GrégoireCélia Gery
GermanyFelix EngelhardtFranziska Koch
Great BritainFred WrightZoe Bäckstedt
ItalyJonathan MilanElisa Longo Borghini
NetherlandsWilco KeldermanLieke Nooijen
SpainMarcel CamprubíMireia Benito
SwitzerlandJan ChristenSteffi Häberlin

Kelderman's long wait ends

We saw an absence of the major Tour de France favourites over the nationals road races. As a result, the biggest headline across cycling media over the weekend was the emotional win for Kelderman after 11 years of waiting since he won the national time trial title in 2015. Bauke Mollema (Lidl-Trek) finished second with Jochem Kerckhaert (Beat CC p/b Saxo) third in Nijmegen.

Results

Nijmegen • Jun 28

Velora
PosRiderNATTime
🥇
NL flagWilco KELDERMAN
NED4:05:42
🥈
NL flagBauke MOLLEMA
NED+1:18
🥉
NL flagJochem KERCKHAERT
NED+1:18
4
NL flagRick PLUIMERS
NED+1:44
5
NL flagTibor DEL GROSSO
NED+1:44
6
NL flagDylan VAN BAARLE
NED+1:48
7
NL flagJelle JOHANNINK
NED+2:54
8
NL flagPascal EENKHOORN
NED+2:54
9
NL flagAxel VAN DER TUUK
NED+2:54
10
NL flagCees BOL
NED+2:54
Romain Grégoire celebrates winning the French National Road Championship in La Tour du PinPhoto: Thomas Maheux/SWpix.com

"This is a wonderful feeling. It has been a long time since I last won a road stage, I think since my U23 days," Kelderman said in a team press release. "Today everything came together. It's still hard to believe."

The Dutch women's race delivered its own surprise as Classics rider Lieke Nooijen (Visma | Lease a Bike) outsprinted Femke Markus (Lidl-Trek) for the title, with Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek) third at 20 seconds.

Results

Jun 28

Velora
PosRiderTeamTime
🥇
NL flagLieke NOOIJEN
Team Visma | Lease a Bike2:49:20
🥈
NL flagFemke MARKUS
Team SD Worx-Protime+0:00
🥉
NL flagLoes ADEGEEST
Lidl-Trek+0:20
4
NL flagFemke DE VRIES
Team Visma | Lease a Bike+0:27
5
NL flagMischa BREDEWOLD
Team SD Worx-Protime+0:27
6
NL flagLorena WIEBES
Team SD Worx-Protime+1:06
7
NL flagRiejanne MARKUS
Lidl-Trek+1:07
8
NL flagKarlijn SWINKELS
UAE Team ADQ+1:07
9
NL flagBabette VAN DER WOLF
EF Education-Oatly+1:07
10
NL flagNina BUIJSMAN
Human Powered Health+1:07

There were more surprises in Belgium with the race in Brasschaat as Bossuyt managed to beat Kopecky in the sprint for the second time this season after she won a stage of La Vuelta Femenina earlier in the year. Sandrine Tas (Lotto-Intermarché) continued her superb introduction to the sport as the former speed skater continued to perform at the highest level. In the men's race it was Rune Herregodts (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) who managed to outsprint Jonas Rickaert (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Fabio van den Bossche (Soudal-Quickstep) to take a surprise win.

Results

Brasschaat • Jun 28

Velora
PosRiderTeamTime
🥇
BE flagRune HERREGODTS
UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG4:49:32
🥈
BE flagJonas RICKAERT
ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH+0:00
🥉
BE flagFabio VAN DEN BOSSCHE
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP+0:00
4
BE flagQuinten HERMANS
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM+0:40
5
BE flagThibau NYS
LIDL-TREK+0:40
6
BE flagLionel TAMINIAUX
LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ+0:40
7
BE flagGianni VERMEERSCH
RED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE+0:46
8
BE flagGil GELDERS
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP+0:46
9
BE flagDries DE BONDT
TEAM JAYCO ALULA+0:51
10
BE flagMichiel COPPENS
BEAT CC P/B SAXO+0:52

Results

Brasschaat • Jun 28

Velora
PosRiderTeamTime
🥇
BE flagShari BOSSUYT
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM3:22:10
🥈
BE flagLotte KOPECKY
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+0:00
🥉
BE flagSandrine TAS
LOTTO INTERMARCHE LADIES+0:00
4
BE flagAnna VANDERAERDEN
FENIX-PREMIER TECH DEVELOPMENT TEAM+0:00
5
BE flagKelly DRUYTS
-+0:00
6
BE flagOlivia VERCRUYSSE
FENIX-PREMIER TECH DEVELOPMENT TEAM+0:00
7
BE flagFemke VAN GOETHEM
CITYMESH - CUSTOMM PRO CYCLING TEAM+0:00
8
BE flagMargot VANPACHTENBEKE
LIDL - TREK+0:00
9
BE flagAudrey DE KEERSMAEKER
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+0:00
10
BE flagEmma SIEGERS
AG INSURANCE SOUDAL DEVO TEAM+0:00

In France, Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ United) took a well-deserved victory as he outpaced his competitors on the final rise to the line in Le Tour-du-Pin bringing the jersey back to the team for the first time since Valentin Madouas won in 2023. Paul Lapeira (Decathlon CMA CGM) and Joris Delbove (TotalEnergies) were the closest riders to him at the finish.

Results

La Tour-du-Pin • Jun 28

Velora
PosRiderNATTime
🥇
FR flagRomain GREGOIRE
FRA5:12:47
🥈
FR flagPaul LAPEIRA
FRA+0:13
🥉
FR flagJoris DELBOVE
FRA+0:14
4
FR flagAlex BAUDIN
FRA+0:22
5
FR flagLéo BISIAUX
FRA+0:26
6
FR flagClément BERTHET
FRA+0:49
7
FR flagJordan JEGAT
FRA+1:24
8
FR flagAlexandre DELETTRE
FRA+1:24
9
FR flagAxel MARIAULT
FRA+1:24
10
FR flagDorian GODON
FRA+1:29

In the women's race, Gery took the win for FDJ United-Suez with a solo move on the final climb to beat Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly) by five seconds, with Émilie Morier (St Michel-Preference Home-Auber93) third. The U23 world champion's 2026 wins now include Brabantse Pijl, the GP Chambéry and a Giro d'Italia Women stage, with the French title her fourth victory of the year.

Results

Jun 28

Velora
PosRiderNATTime
🥇
FR flagCélia GERY
FRA3:00:27
🥈
FR flagCedrine KERBAOL
FRA+0:05
🥉
FR flagEmilie MORIER
FRA+0:07
4
FR flagMaeva SQUIBAN
FRA+0:13
5
FR flagJuliette BERTHET
FRA+0:25
6
FR flagClémence LATIMIER
FRA+0:26
7
FR flagGladys VERHULST WILD
FRA+1:27
8
FR flagSolène MULLER
FRA+1:43
9
FR flagLéa CURINIER
FRA+1:43
10
FR flagVictoire BERTEAU
FRA+2:06

In Herning, Denmark it was a dream come true for Magnus Cort (Uno-X Mobility) who took the Danish national title for the first time in his career just days after he announced he will be retiring at the end of the season. By contrast, Amalie Dideriksen (Cofidis) took her sixth national road title on the women's side.

Results

Herning • Jun 28

Velora
PosRiderTeamTime
🥇
DK flagMagnus NIELSEN
UNO-X MOBILITY4:26:01
🥈
DK flagAnders FOLDAGER
TEAM JAYCO ALULA+0:00
🥉
DK flagAnthon CHARMIG
UNO-X MOBILITY+0:00
4
DK flagRasmus PEDERSEN
DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM+0:00
5
DK flagMads PEDERSEN
LIDL-TREK+0:00
6
DK flagKasper ASGREEN
EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST+0:00
7
DK flagMads ANDERSEN
SWATT CLUB+0:00
8
DK flagMads LANDBO
TEAM COLOQUICK+0:00
9
DK flagSylvester STOKBRO
AIRTOX - CARL RAS+0:00
10
DK flagWilliam LEVY
UNO-X MOBILITY+0:00

Results

Herning • Jun 28

Velora
PosRiderTeamTime
🥇
DK flagAmalie DIDERIKSEN
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM3:11:16
🥈
DK flagSilje ANTVORSKOV
-+0:00
🥉
DK flagEmilie OLESEN
-+0:00
4
DK flagAlberte GREVE
UNO-X MOBILITY+0:00
5
DK flagIda Krickau KETELSEN
O'SHEA RED CHILLI BIKES+0:00
6
DK flagMathilde CRAMER
O'SHEA RED CHILLI BIKES+0:00
7
DK flagAlma RASMUSSEN
HITEC PRODUCTS-FLUID CONTROL+0:00
8
DK flagOlympia NORRID-MORTENSEN
-+0:00
9
DK flagAstrid Marie SØRENSEN
-+0:00
10
DK flagGertrud MADSEN
-+0:00

In Aberystwyth, Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon//Sram zondacrypto) completed a British double after winning the time trial earlier in the week. She chased down DAS-Huchinson's Josie Knight after the track star was out solo for most of the day before Bäckstedt soloed to victory, while Fred Wright (Pinarello Q36.5) took a second national road title in the men's race, outsprinting Lewis Askey (NSN) and Connor Swift (Netcompany-Ineos).

Results

Aberystwyth • Jun 28

Velora
PosRiderTeamTime
🥇
GB flagAlfred Brockwell WRIGHT
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM4:15:47
🥈
GB flagLewis ASKEY
NSN CYCLING TEAM+0:00
🥉
GB flagConnor SWIFT
NETCOMPANY INEOS+0:00
4
GB flagElliot ROWE
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE DEVELOPMENT+0:17
5
GB flagMattie DODD
INEOS GRENADIERS RACING ACADEMY+0:17
6
GB flagOliver WOOD
-+3:05
7
GB flagThomas PORTSMOUTH
-+3:05
8
GB flagAdam MITCHELL
VENDEE U PRIMEO ENERGIE+3:05
9
GB flagJed SMITHSON
HAGENS BERMAN JAYCO+3:05
10
GB flagDanylo RIWNYJ
-+3:12

Results

Aberystwyth • Jun 28

Velora
PosRiderTeamTime
🥇
GB flagZoe BACKSTEDT
CANYON//SRAM3:30:44
🥈
GB flagJosie KNIGHT
DAS-HUTCHINSON+1:42
🥉
GB flagMillie COUZENS
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+2:02
4
GB flagPfeiffer Zara GEORGI
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+2:02
5
GB flagAnna MORRIS
-+2:02
6
GB flagImogen WOLFF
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+2:02
7
GB flagErin BOOTHMAN
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+2:02
8
GB flagJosie NELSON
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+2:03
9
GB flagAnna HENDERSON
LIDL - TREK+2:03
10
GB flagNoemie THOMSON
DAS-HUTCHINSON+2:03

On Saturday Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) took his first national road race title in Italy in a sprint finish that saw him go up against a lesser group of sprinters as Tommaso Dati (Team UKYO) and Alessandro Romele (XDS-Astana) rounded out the podium. On Sunday the women raced in Pordenone with Elisa Longo-Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) taking her seventh national road race title and her fourth in a row. She won by 18 seconds over Monica Trinca Colonel (Jayco-AlUla) as Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) led in the bunch sprint for third.

Results

Jun 27

Velora
PosRiderTeamTime
🥇
IT flagJonathan MILAN
LIDL-TREK4:52:40
🥈
IT flagTommaso DATI
TEAM UKYO+0:00
🥉
IT flagAlessandro ROMELE
XDS ASTANA TEAM+0:00
4
IT flagLuca COLNAGHI
BARDIANI CSF 7 SABER+0:00
5
IT flagMarco MANENTI
BARDIANI CSF 7 SABER+0:00
6
IT flagMatteo TRENTIN
TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM+0:00
7
IT flagAlberto DAINESE
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP+0:00
8
IT flagGabriele BESSEGA
TEAM POLTI VISITMALTA+0:00
9
IT flagGiacomo BALLABIO
TEAM VORARLBERG+0:00
10
IT flagDario Igor BELLETTA
TEAM POLTI VISITMALTA+0:00

Results

Pordenone • Jun 28

Velora
PosRiderTeamTime
🥇
IT flagElisa LONGO BORGHINI
UAE TEAM ADQ2:49:08
🥈
IT flagMonica TRINCA COLONEL
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+0:18
🥉
IT flagElisa BALSAMO
LIDL - TREK+1:50
4
IT flagVittoria GUAZZINI
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ+1:50
5
IT flagEleonora Camilla GASPARRINI
UAE TEAM ADQ+1:50
6
IT flagLetizia PATERNOSTER
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+1:50
7
IT flagArianna FIDANZA
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+1:50
8
IT flagNadia QUAGLIOTTO
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+1:50
9
IT flagSoraya PALADIN
CANYON//SRAM+1:50
10
IT flagFrancesca BARALE
MOVISTAR TEAM+1:50

Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) added the Swiss road title to the TT title he took earlier in the week with surprise podium riders Valentin Darbellay (Elite Fondations) and Melk Zumstein (V.C. Mendrisio) completed the podium. In the women's race Steffi Häberlin (SD Worx-Protime) retained her title after beating Marlen Reusser (Movistar) in Courtételle with Jasmin Liechti (Nexetis) coming in third but almost four minutes down.

Results

Jun 28

Velora
PosRiderTeamTime
🥇
CH flagJan CHRISTEN
UAE Team Emirates-XRG3:43:40
🥈
CH flagValentin DARBELLAY
Elite Fondations Cycling Team+0:14
🥉
CH flagMelk ZUMSTEIN
V.C.Mendrisio+0:25
4
CH flagMarc HIRSCHI
Tudor Pro Cycling Team+0:33
5
CH flagFabio CHRISTEN
Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team+1:12
6
CH flagLuca JENNI
Run & Race - Solarpur+1:13
7
CH flagArnaud TISSIÈRES
Elite Fondations Cycling Team+1:30
8
CH flagSimon PELLAUD
Li Ning Star+2:47
9
CH flagNoah BÖGLI
Elite Fondations Cycling Team+3:05
10
CH flagStefan KÜNG
Tudor Pro Cycling Team+3:05

In Spain, Marcel Camprubí (Pinarello-Q36.5) took his first professional victory after over five hours of racing in Sabiñánigo, holding off Joel Nicolau (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) by five seconds as Urko Berrade (Kern Pharma) completed the podium. Mireia Benito (AG Insurance-Soudal) did the Spanish road-TT double in the women's race, beating the Movistar pair of Sara Martín and Paula Ostiz.

Results

Sabiñánigo • Jun 28

Velora
PosRiderTeamTime
🥇
ES flagMarcel CAMPRUBI PIJUAN
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM5:01:09
🥈
ES flagJoel NICOLAU BELTRAN
CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA+0:05
🥉
ES flagUrko BERRADE FERNANDEZ
EQUIPO KERN PHARMA+0:11
4
ES flagJoan BOU COMPANY
CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA+0:43
5
ES flagIgor ARRIETA LIZARRAGA
UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG+1:05
6
ES flagHector ALVAREZ MARTINEZ
LIDL-TREK FUTURE RACING+3:19
7
ES flagJose Manuel DIAZ GALLEGO
BURGOS-BURPELLET-BH+3:31
8
ES flagAdria PERICAS CAPDEVILA
UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG+3:31
9
ES flagRoger ADRIA OLIVERAS
MOVISTAR TEAM+3:35
10
ES flagXabier Mikel AZPARREN IRURZUN
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM+3:38

Results

Jun 28

Velora
PosRiderTeamTime
🥇
ES flagMireia BENITO PELLICER
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM3:42:18
🥈
ES flagSara MARTIN MARTIN
MOVISTAR TEAM+0:02
🥉
ES flagPaula OSTIZ TACO
MOVISTAR TEAM+0:02
4
ES flagMargarita Victoria GARCIA CAÑELLAS
UAE TEAM ADQ+0:06
5
ES flagSandra ALONSO DOMINGUEZ
-+0:08
6
ES flagMaite URTEAGA SORAZU
-+0:27
7
ES flagTamara SEIJAS FERNANDEZ
-+1:22
8
ES flagMarina GARAU ROCA
VINI FANTINI - BEPINK+1:22
9
ES flagIdoia ERASO LASA
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+1:42
10
ES flagAinara ALBERT BOSCH
-+1:58

Felix Engelhardt (Jayco-AlUla) justified his Tour de France selection by taking the German men's title from a five-rider sprint with rising star Lennart Jasch (Tudor) taking second and Nico Denz (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) rounding out the podium. Franziska Koch (FDJ United-Suez) retained the German women's crown, beating Liane Lippert (Movistar) and Justyna Czapla (Canyon-SRAM) to continue her strong 2026 form.

Results

Jun 28

Velora
PosRiderNATTime
🥇
DE flagFelix ENGELHARDT
GER4:38:38
🥈
DE flagLennart JASCH
GER+0:00
🥉
DE flagNico DENZ
GER+0:00
4
DE flagNils POLITT
GER+0:00
5
DE flagGeorg ZIMMERMANN
GER+0:00
6
DE flagTim Torn TEUTENBERG
GER+0:52
7
DE flagMaximilian SCHACHMANN
GER+0:54
8
DE flagLennard KÄMNA
GER+0:58
9
DE flagJermaine ZEMKE
GER+4:10
10
DE flagMaximilian Richard WALSCHEID
GER+4:45

Results

Jun 28

Velora
PosRiderNATTime
🥇
DE flagFranziska KOCH
GER3:07:43
🥈
DE flagLiane LIPPERT
GER+0:00
🥉
DE flagJustyna CZAPLA
GER+0:00
4
DE flagNele LAING
GER+0:02
5
DE flagAntonia NIEDERMAIER
GER+0:02
6
DE flagLinda RIEDMANN
GER+1:41
7
DE flagClara JÄGER
GER+1:41
8
DE flagRosa KLÖSER
GER+1:41
9
DE flagKaroline GOLDSCHMIDT
GER+1:43
10
DE flagLaura SÜßEMILCH
GER+4:26

Many of these new champions will debut their national jerseys at the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes next month.

Tim Bonville-Ginn headshot

Tim Bonville-Ginn

Pro cycling contributor

Tim Bonville-Ginn is a freelance writer who has worked in cycling for well over a decade with his articles being featured across publications such as Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Cyclist, Rouleur, Eurosport, Road cc, Domestique, and more.

As well as writing, Tim has worked as a social media and press manager for professional teams Human Powered Health, Global 6, and Saint Piran across Europe as well as commentating on races such as the African Continental Championships, Tour de Feminin and multiple rounds of the British road and circuit series for Golazo and Monument Cycling.

Expertise:Racing