– What happened? –

The podium at the second round of the 2018 UCI Cycle-ball World Cup was familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time. Victory went to Patrick Schnetzer and Markus Bröll from RC Höchst (Austria). The multiple UCI World Champions triumphed 7-4 (4-4) over clubmates Florian Fischer and Simon König in the Swiss town of Altdorf to seal Schnetzer’s 20th World Cup win and Bröll’s 17th. So far, nothing out of the ordinary.

However, in contrast with other years, the winning pair did not climb onto the top step of the podium wearing the UCI World Champion’s rainbow jersey. After claiming four successive World titles, Schnetzer and Bröll lost their crown last year to German side Stein. It was therefore sporting the UEC European Champion’s jersey that they made their appearance in Altdorf.

Meanwhile, the UCI World Cup leader’s jersey now adorns the shoulders of the European Champions’ clubmates: König and Fischer’s second place in Altdorf saw them overtake previous frontrunners Obernfeld/GER (André Kopp/Raphael Kopp) in the standings. After securing victory in the opening tournament two weeks ago, the German pair could only battle to a 5-4 win over wildcard team Altdorf III (Beda Planzer / Fabian Hauri) in the match for fifth place.

[FACEBOOK ID="https://www.facebook.com/PatrickSchnetzerundMarkusBroell/posts/2053363484779059"]

Hosts Altdorf saw their three teams finish in third, fourth and sixth places. Their top duo (Roman Schneider/Paul Looser) lies in third place in the overall standings.

– What's next? –

2018 UCI Cycle-ball World Cup #3, Beringen, Belgium > 26 May

– Focus on Beringen –

The UCI Cycle-ball World Cup will make its first visit to the small Belgian town of Beringen. Belgium has previously hosted the competition on three occasions, each time in Ghent. Brecht Damen and Niels Dirikx have represented Belgium at international level since 2011. Last year they achieved their best result at a UCI World Championships with fifth place. They have a modest record in the UCI World Cup, with a best-ever tournament placing of fifth in 2012. In 2017 they were ranked 13th.

A good result – for example reaching the semi-finals – for Damen and Dirikx at their home event would be a good omen for this year’s UCI Indoor Cycling World Championships, which are returning to Belgium (Liège) for the first time since 1975.