Ireland’s Lucy Benezet Minns crowned European champion in Germany

Lucy Benezet Minns has been crowned European points race champion after a brilliant title race in Germany by the Irish rider. She claimed the European crown from Jenna van Tongeren of the Netherlands and Chantal Pegolo of Italy.

Ireland’s Benezet Minns ran out the very clear winner, on 89 points, by a margin of 24 points over van Tongeren, also beating bronze medalist Pegolo by 46 points.

Benezet Minns was the only rider in the field to gain three laps – thus securing 60 points for those efforts. She also won three of the 12 sprints, taking five points for each sprint win.

She adds this European crown, a huge achievement, to the 4th place she took in the junior women’s TT at the World Road Championships last season.

The UK-based teenager, who rides for Tofauti Everyone Active, also won the TT and road race crowns at last month’s National Road Championships in Limerick.

“It was a really goo race, I rode really hard because I knew I needed to make the race hard in order to get a a good result,” Benezet Minns said of her European title win.

“The race split up earlier than I was hoping but I think I did a good job of managing my effort and staying in the wheels and then hitting people when they were tired, so it was a good race.”

The Irish rider added she had not done much track racing at a high level until this season and she was delighted to be able to win a European title.

“I’m just really thankful, I have had a lot of support over the last few years with my track. So I’m just really grateful that I can pull off this jersey (win) as a way of thanking everyone who has helped me over the years.”