The statement on the Presidency of the Republic's official website states, “With this third gold medal in the European Championships, after the titles in 2020 and 2022, and the omnium world title in 2023, Iúri Leitão achieves another great feat for Portuguese cycling, which elevates and magnifies national sport and makes the President of the Republic and all the Portuguese very proud.”

With nine circuits remaining, the 25-year-old Portuguese rider secured the victory with a dominant start, finishing the race in 16.40 minutes at an average speed of 54 kilometres per hour on Friday.

Leitão, a native of Viana do Castelo, overcame Austrian Tim Wafler, second following a correction by the classification commissioners, and Denmark's Tobias Hansen, third, to earn Portugal its first medal in this edition of the Europeans.

The current Olympic omnium world champion adds this European crown to his 2020 and 2022 victories in the same category, earning him his eighth medal at the European Championships.

Rui Oliveira was the European champion in this discipline in 2021, but Leitão became the only person to win the title three times, surpassing Sebastian Mora of Spain's two golds.

Author

A passionate Irish journalist with a love for cycling, politics and of course Portugal especially their sausage rolls.

Rory Mc Ginn