Spanish cyclists Benjamín Noval, Héctor Álvarez, and Alejandra Neira won three gold medals in the time trial events at the European Championships in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. The results represent the most successful haul in the history of Spain’s junior and under-23 categories at the event, according to reports from El Mundo.
Benjamín Noval wins junior gold by four hundredths
Benjamín Noval claimed the junior men’s time trial title on his 18th birthday, finishing the 22-kilometer circuit in Sencur with a time of 29:46.98. Noval defeated Denmark’s Malthe Risbjerg by just 0.04 seconds, while Belgium’s Vic de Smet took bronze, finishing seven seconds behind the leader, El Mundo reported.
The victory follows a dominant run for the Asturian rider, who won both the road and time trial gold medals at the Montreal World Championships 13 days prior. ABC reported that Noval struggled during parts of the race, noting he felt he started at too high a pace and suffered on the climbs before recovering in the final section.
Following his European success, Noval is set to join the professional ranks next season with the British team Ineos, according to ABC.
Alejandra Neira secures junior women’s title
Alejandra Neira won the junior women’s time trial with a time of 35:45. The Galician rider beat Belgium’s Laura Fivé by three seconds, with Lithuania’s Auguste Mikutyte finishing third, 10 seconds behind Neira. ABC noted that the race for gold was decided in the final meters.
Neira’s victory adds to her recent world title in the junior road race in Montreal. Despite finishing seventh in the road race in Ljubljana, she managed to secure the gold in the time trial, succeeding fellow Spaniard Paula Ostiz, who won the event last year, ABC reported.
The 18-year-old from Santiago de Compostela will move to the professional level next season with the Movistar Team women’s squad, according to ABC.
Héctor Álvarez dominates under-23 category
Héctor Álvarez won the under-23 men’s time trial, recording a time of 28:44.71. The Alicante-born rider led the race from start to finish, beating Belgium’s Matisse Van Kerckhove and Norway’s Kasper Haugland, El Mundo reported.
Álvarez has established himself as the dominant force in the European U23 category this week, having already won the road race gold on Friday. At 19 years old and 1.90 meters tall, Álvarez is a track-trained cyclist who aims to compete in the Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders classics, according to El Mundo.
Currently a member of the Lidl-Trek team, Álvarez previously earned a silver in the road race and a bronze in the time trial at the Montreal World Championships. He is scheduled to compete in the Paris-Tours classic this Sunday, El Mundo added.
¡Buenos días todos desde Eslovenia! 🥇🥇😬 #TeamESPciclismo🇪🇸 #EuroRoad26
— Real Federación Española de Ciclismo (@RFECiclismo) October 7, 2026
Spanish medal standings in Ljubljana
The three gold medals in the time trial events complement other Spanish achievements during the championships. Aitor Martínez earned a silver medal in the junior road race, and Héctor Álvarez secured gold in the U23 road race, El Mundo reported.
The results for the time trial events are summarized below:
| Rider | Category | Time | Medal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Héctor Álvarez | Under-23 Men | 28:44.71 | Gold |
| Benjamín Noval | Junior Men | 29:46.98 | Gold |
| Alejandra Neira | Junior Women | 35:45 | Gold |
Noval and Neira join professional cycling teams
How do these European results compare to the World Championships?
Both Noval and Neira enter the professional ranks following double successes; Noval won both the road and time trial gold in Montreal, while Neira won the road race gold there and the time trial gold in Ljubljana.
Which professional teams are recruiting these riders?
Benjamín Noval has signed with Ineos, and Alejandra Neira will join the Movistar Team women’s squad for the upcoming season, according to ABC.
What is the background of Héctor Álvarez?
Unlike many road specialists, Álvarez was trained on the track. He currently rides for Lidl-Trek and is targeting the northern classics due to his physical profile, El Mundo reported.
The European Championships conclude Wednesday evening with the elite men’s and women’s time trial events, El Mundo reported.
Regarding her victory, Neira stated: It has been incredible, a year where I always said that I always almost made it, second in almost everything… and I think that in these two weeks I have received the prize I sought so much this season.
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