World champion under 23 last year in Edmonton, Emma Lombardi could not keep pace with the Briton Non Stanford, crowned European champion, on the difficult part of the run with the climb of the hill of the Olympic Park (750 to 5%).
Neck and neck with the German Laura Lindemann for 2nd place, Lombardi gave up in the sprint and had to settle for bronze.
Lombardi was part of the French mixed relay crowned world champion in Montreal at the end of June.
Sunday will take place the mixed relay of the European Championships, still in the Olympic park in Munich, with two places to be distributed on the women's side between Lombardi, Cassandre Beaugrand and Léonie Périault.
Great French chance for the European title, Beaugrand was ideally placed in the leading group when dropping the bike, but broke down on the second half of the race, finishing in 5th place.
© 2022 AFP