The world’s top specialists will be eager to earn early points Komárno before the following rounds scheduled for Schiltigheim (France) on 9 July, Hong Kong on 13 August and the season Final in Erlenbach (Germany) on 29 October.
After two years severely impacted by the Covid-10 pandemic (one round in 2020 then two rounds and a final in 2021), the UCI Artistic Cycling World Cup is gradually regaining force. In addition, the UEC Indoor Cycling Elite European Championships (artistic cycling and cycle-ball) will be organised for the first time since 2018. They will take place in Nyíregyháza (Hungary) in June, three weeks after the Europeans for Juniors in Schaffhausen (Switzerland). Then, in November, the climax of the artistic cycling season will see rainbow jerseys awarded at the UCI Indoor Cycling World Championship in Ghent, Belgium.
First stop Slovakia
Thirty-six athletes from ten nations and two continents are registered for Saturday’s UCI World Cup opener in the Single, Pair and Act4 disciplines – so some level of normality is returning, even if it is limited.
The host club SKC Kolárovo provides the only two starters for Slovakia. Eszter Kulich and Dóra Rákócza compete in the Pair Women and Natália Zibrita is registered in the Single Women category.
Many of the top-ranked competitors come from Germany. In four out of five categories, the three top-seeded starters are German.
Act4 Open
The only exception is the Act4 Open competition, where the German women's quartet from Steinhöring (Judith Kania / Jasmin Hauke / Hanna Kasper / Nicole Weichenhain) will be closely challenged by two Swiss teams: Baar I (Vanessa Hotz / Stefanie Moos / Flavia Schürmann / Carole Ledergerber) and Uzwil (Stefanie Haas / Valerie Unternährer / Selina Niedermann / Sarah Manser). The two Swiss teams are on an equal footing, which promises to add spice throughout the season, starting in Slovakia!
Pair Open
In the Pair Open competition, it’s an all-German contest at the UCI World Cup opener. Reigning UCI World Champions Max Hanselmann / Serafin Schefold (Öhringen) will not be present due to sickness, but top quality competition is guaranteed thanks to the UCI World Championship silver medallists Nico Rödiger / Lea-Victoria Styber (Langenselbold) and reigning UEC European Champions Patrick Tisch / Nina Stapf (Magstadt/Denkendorf).
Single Women
In the Single Women, the cards will be reshuffled this season. Three-time UCI World Champion Milena Slupina (Bernlohe/GER) has retired so her runner-up at the 2021 UCI Indoor Cycling World Championships Lara Füller (Poppenweiler/GER) takes on the role of favourite – and has two opponents from her own country in hot pursuit. Ramona Dandl (Bruckmühl) and Lena Günther (Nufringen) are only a few points behind Füller with their initial values. They are followed by Magdalena Müller, who competes for Italy, and Alice Rieb of France.
Pair Women
Three German pairs continue their confrontation from the previous year. Henny Kirst / Antonia Bärk (Bonn-Duisdorf) are regarded as outsiders with the potential to win. The 2021 UCI World Champions Helen Vordermeier / Selina Marquardt (Stuttgart) will once again challenge the favoured Sophie-Marie Wöhrle / Caroline Wurth (Gutach). In addition to the UCI World Cup, Wöhrle / Wurth will target the rainbow jerseys after finishing as runners-up in three successive UCI World Championships. The two Swiss pairs Sina Bäggli / Julia Hämmerli (Stäfa) and Nadine Zuberbühler / Jeannine Graf (Amriswil) follow the three German pairs in the initial values.
Single Men
Lukas Kohl (Kirchehrenbach/GER) is already back in top form. A few days ago, the five-time UCI World Champion cracked the 200-point mark for the 100th time. His runner-up at the UCI World Championships in 2021 Max Maute (Tailfingen/GER) and the 2019 UCI World Championship silver medallist Marcel Jüngling (Dorndorf/GER) will want to crack the dominance of their compatriot. Meanwhile, Spaniard Emilio Arellano aims to interrupt the German stronghold: the son of multiple UCI World Championship silver medallist Jose Arellano attracted attention at the last UCI World Championships by taking the bronze medal in his first year of Elite competition.