Italy's Edoardo Affini claims European time-trial championship

Unheralded Italian Edoardo Affini won the European championships individual time-trial in Belgium on Wednesday.

In a busy season, the continental championships were scheduled between the Olympics and the world championships, and several major riders were absent from the starting ramp.

Title holder Josh Tarling and Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel both skipped the race.

The results were also affected by changing weather conditions, with early starters riding in clement conditions before wind and rain hit most of the riders.

Affini raced the 31.3km course in 35min 15sec with Stefan Kung of Switzerland second at 9sec and another Italian, Mattia Cattaneo, in third at 19sec.