Fresh from his victory at the Giro Next Gen last Sunday, Jakob Omrzel continued his excellent form by winning the Men’s Elite road race at the Slovenian National Championships in Celje. The 19 year old attacked from the breakaway 9 km from the finish, dropping the rest of the escapees. Matevž Govekar from the World Tour team won the sprint for 3rd place. 


Omrzel admitted it was a very tough day in the saddle: “With Just 50 riders on the start it was hard to control the race. In the team we did a good job with Matevž Govekar and Žak Eržen [who both ride for Bahrain Victorious WT Team] always on the front. But after the Tour of Slovenia and Giro Next Gen I knew I was really good and that I have the legs for the win.”

Gorazd Štangelj agreed: “The race was quite stressful. We won by the legs. Jakob showed that he is a rider for the future not just with the legs but also with his way of racing. He really feels cycling and how to handle the race to win it. He did all great and perfect. The decision was to race as one team with the goal that Bahrain Victorious wins the National Championship and we succeeded. Great! 3rd place for Matevž Govekar showed that he was also there to win the race behind, in case we caught the breakaway.

Also on Sunday, Alessandro Borgo took the U23 Italian road race crown in Darfo Boario Terme. A late attack in the finale caught the rest of the front group by surprise and earned him a first national title.


Borgo has had an extremely impressive year so far, and is enjoying his success: “This win is the cherry on the cake of this already amazing season. After my Gent Wevelgem U23 victory, now the Italian Championship! I came here with a bitter taste in my mouth after second place in the Giro Next Gen stage to Aqui Terme, but  with the awareness that I had good condition. At the end of the race we were 8 riders contesting the win and I thought I could play for victory in the sprint. At 500m I found myself in the front with a small gap and I went straight for the finish.
I would like to dedicate this win to my family, my trainer Alessio Mattiussi, the whole team and my friends, especially the one who watches me from above: Daniele Gnoffo.


Meanwhile, at the Irish National Championships, Seth Dunwoody also had a good weekend. The 19 year old finished the weekend with two medals: silver in the TT and bronze in the RR.

On Sunday, another rider from the Bahrain Victorious WorldTour team claimed a medal at the National Championships, as Fran Miholjević secured second place in Croatia. Meanwhile, in Italy, Nicolò Buratti finished 8th in the Elite Men’s road race.