Lars Peers has been crowned European mountain bike champion in the under-17 short track (XCC) cross-country category, in Jönköping, Sweden.
The 15-year-old from Bevel, Antwerp, who is also the Belgian cyclo-cross champion in the U17 category (first-year beginners), secured victory just one second ahead of Italian Riccardo Fasoli and Brit Luke Trafford.
Tijl Vanhaverbeke finished fourth, four seconds behind. Robin Meijers came 13th, 11 seconds behind, and Louca Vanlommel placed 26th, 28 seconds off the lead.
Last year, Peers claimed the European title in the same discipline in the U15 category in Huskvarna, Sweden, having finished second in the U15 category in 2023 in Il Ciocco, Italy. That year, he also won the European title in the cross-country discipline.
In the U15 category, Mats Becqué finished second, trailing three seconds behind Italian Davide Quattrone.
