EN Závody Evropský pohár The Czech representatives Eliška Bartuňková and Sabina Košárková performed very well in the opening two races of the European Bicross Cup in Verona, Italy, when they made it to the podium. The final race was also won by junior Marek Neužil, who finished seventh on the second day. Bartuňková finished in third place on Saturday in the U23 category, and on Sunday she narrowly missed the podium when she finished fourth. Junior Košárková did even better. In the opening part of the series, she finished third, and in the second, she was beaten only by the Belgian Valerie Vosasenová, who won both races. "Both of our young competitors managed the entry into the new season very well. They are our hopes for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris and in Verona they showed that they can compete with the best women. Marek Neužil is also promising, and Jakub Klement also showed himself in a very good light in the 16-year-old category, who took fifth and sixth place," said national team coach Lukáš Tamme. Results: 1st race: Elite Men: 1. Kimman (Netherlands), 2. Andre (Fr.), 3. Ramirez (Col.). Men U23: 1. Cantiero (It.), 2. Dyhre (Dan.), 3. Gargaglia (It.). Juniors: 1. Magdelijns (Belg.), 2. Bijsterbosch, 3. Nooram (both Netherlands). Elite Women: 1. L. Smulderová (Netherlands), 2. Shrieverová (Brit.), 3. Claessensová (Switzerland). Women U23: 2. Cingolaniová (It.), 2. Jouteauová (Fr.), 3. Bartůňková (CZ). Junior girls: 1. Vosasenová (Belgium), 2. van Schijndelová (Netherlands), 3. Košárková (Czech Republic). 2nd race: Elite Men: 1. Garoyan (Fr.), 2. Andre, 3. Cullen (Brit.). Men U23: 1. Dyhre, 2. Gargaglia, 3. Thouin (Fr.). Juniors: 1. Brink (Dutch), 2. Frizarin, 3. Groppo (both It.), ...7. He did not use (CZ). Elite Women: 1. Claessens, 2. Shriver, 3. L. Smulders. Women U23: 1. Sheepersová, 2. Wissnová (both Niz.), 3. Cingolaniová, 4. Bartůňková. Junior girls: 1. Vossenová, 2. Košárková, 3. Maniková (SR). PHOTO Lukáš Tamme taken from the website of the Czech Cycling Association