Huub Artz secured the Netherlands’ fourth gold at the 2024 UEC Road European Championships, winning the U23 men’s road race in a thrilling sprint finish. The 162-kilometer race in Hasselt saw Artz outpace Germany’s Niklas Behrens, with France’s Léandre Lozouet claiming the bronze medal 10 seconds later.
The trio made their decisive move with over 40 kilometers remaining, before the race’s final climbs. Despite chase groups trying to close the gap, the leaders maintained their advantage. With 14 kilometers to go, the gap between the leaders and the chasers was just 20 seconds, but the frontrunners held on.
Artz, Behrens, and Lozouet broke away from the pack, and in the final 5 kilometers, Behrens made an attack, leaving Lozouet behind. Artz matched the German’s pace and managed to narrowly win the sprint finish.
Reflecting on his victory, Artz expressed surprise and delight. “It’s amazing. I didn’t expect to win,” he said. “I was thinking all week ‘How can I possibly win?’ Our group was strong, and in the end, it came down to who had the fastest legs.”
The race began with a 162-kilometer course from Heusden-Zolder to Hasselt, featuring six cobbled sectors and two major cobbled climbs. Early breakaways were kept in check by the Belgian and Dutch teams. As the race progressed, a group including Artz, Behrens, and Lozouet formed, and they managed to stay ahead of the chasing pack.
The final climb saw the chase group lose a rider, and the peloton was scattered. With 35 kilometers remaining, two riders attempted to bridge the gap but failed. The leading trio worked well together, maintaining a slim lead that ultimately secured the race for Artz.
In the end, it was Artz’s sprint that won him the gold, as he and Behrens left Lozouet behind in the final kilometers, fighting for the title in the closing circuit of Hasselt.