Ido Dagan Becomes First Israeli European Track Cycling Champion in Cottbus

Ido Dagan made history by winning the European Under-23 Track Cycling Championship in Cottbus, Germany, becoming the first Israeli to claim this title. The victory came in the points race, a tactical endurance event over 25 kilometers where riders accumulate points through intermediate sprints and lap gains. Dagan executed a strategic race, winning the sixth sprint, finishing third in the final sprint, and overtaking the main pack to secure the highest score of 29 points. He finished four points ahead of German Leon Resag and six points ahead of Norwegian Daniel Kartbol.

This gold medal was Dagan's second at the championship, having previously earned silver in the scratch race. The Israeli delegation also saw strong performances from Aviv Donski, who placed second in another event, and Saar Idan. The medal ceremony was marked by an emotional moment as the Israeli national anthem played, celebrating a significant milestone for Israeli cycling.

The championship highlights Israel's growing presence in European track cycling and reflects the success of its young athletes on the international stage. The event took place on July 11, 2026, and was covered by Sport 5 and Sprint Cycling.