Cycling: The Swiss Stefan Küng conquered the U-23 European Championship title in his home country both in the time trial and in the road competition.
The future BMC rider attacked from a breakaway group of three in the final kilometers and won the 172,8-kilometer race ahead of the oncoming field. “I had a fall at the beginning and didn't feel so good. But it got better towards the end.", said Kiing. “With 500 meters to go I looked back and saw that the field was already close. So I attacked and didn't look back. It was an incredible feeling when I crossed the finish line. I'm so proud that I was able to prove to everyone that I could also win the second title." Luri Filosi (Italy) took silver, Anthony Turgis (France) secured bronze. The best German was Silvio Herklotz in 10th place.
In Friday's 26,9-kilometer individual time trial, Küng was 24 seconds faster than second-placed Davide Martinelli (Italy) and 45 seconds better than Alexander Evtushenko (Russia). Rik Verbrughe, manager of the BMC development team, said Küng reminded him of another Swiss rider, former world time trial champion Fabian Cancellara. "Stefan drives like him - he is a real classic driver and a specialist in time trials", according to Verbrughe. “We knew that the time trial at this championship suits him. That's what we focused on and in the road race we wanted to see how it went. It was amazing." At last month's Swiss Championships, Küng was second to Cancellara (Trek Factory Racing) in the pro time trial and won the elite road title. Two days later he signed a multi-year contract with the BMC Racing Team. “It was a great time here. It's great to become double European champion and that in Switzerland, that's the crowning glory."
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