The overall classification was won by reigning UCI E-Mountain Bike Cross-country World Champions Nicole Göldi (SUI) and Jérôme Gilloux (FRA), thanks to their consistently strong performances throughout the year.
Wiedenroth and Ryf win final race
With seven laps of 3.9 km, the total race distance in Barcelona was 27.3km with a total elevation of 952m.
Wiedenroth won the women’s race in 1:16:35, her first UCI E-Mountain Bike Cross-country World Cup victory since winning the first two races in the 2021 season. She finished just over one minute ahead of Kathrin Stirnemann (SUI), who was well clear of third-placed Justine Tonso.
“Winning the race here in Barcelona, the holeshot award of the year plus celebrating another second place in the overall classification is definitely a dream ending of the 2022 season,” said Wiedenroth.
Ryf won the men’s race in 1:07:37 with Ismael Esteban (ESP) on second place, taking his fourth podium in five races. Fabio Spena (SUI) secured the third place, which was also his third podium of the year.
“World Cup win number three. What a feeling to finish the last race of the season with a win!” said Ryf. “Thank you to everyone for your unbelievable support!”
Overall classification goes to Nicole Göldi
The women’s overall classification was claimed by Nicole Göldi who first won in Monghidoro–Bologna (ITA) and then secured double victories at the stages in Charade–Clermont-Ferrand, Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) and Costa Brava (SPA).
Mid-season, the Swiss champion had established a firm lead with 213 points, 44 points more than Wiedenroth going into the final round where 25 points would be awarded for the victory. Four consecutive runner-up results meant that Wiedenroth secured her second position in the overall classification with 194 points. Tonso claimed third position with 159 points.
Celebrating at the final stage in Costa Brava, Göldi was joined by fellow Swiss rider Ryf and thanked her team for their support:
Clear victory for Gilloux in the men’s overall
The trend from 2021 repeated itself as Jérôme Gilloux and Joris Ryf topped the overall ranking, but this year Gilloux sealed the deal before reaching the final three races in Spain. Due to illness, he did not race in Barcelona and so Ryf could close the gap somewhat by collecting 25 points from the victory.
The contest for third place had five men from five different nationalities, only separated by 23 points, heading into the final round, with Esteban (ESP), Loïc Noël (SUI), Milton Ramos (HON), Jeroen van Eck (NED), and Hugo Pigeon (FRA). Among that group, Esteban was the favourite and his runner-up result in Barcelona secured the third place in the overall ranking.
With eight wins, Gilloux finished on 230 points, followed by Ryf on 183 points and Esteban on 103 points.
Having won the holeshot, powerlap, pole position, team ranking and the UCI E-Mountain Bike Cross-country World Cup overall title for the second consecutive year, Gilloux thanked his team and family for their support: