Nine months after hosting the UCI Trials World Championships, the Spanish city of Vic is preparing to become the epicentre of this exciting format of cycling as it hosts the first round of the 2022 UCI Trials World Cup between the 27th and 29th May.
The action at the Mas de Bigues cycling circuit starts with the Men Elite 20” quarter finals on Friday (27 May) followed by the Men Elite 26” quarter finals and the Women’s semi-finals on Saturday (28 May). On Sunday (29 May), the Men Elite semi-finals (20” and 26”) will be followed by the finals for all categories.
Ahead of what’ll be an exhilarating three days of action, we look at the riders who are sure to leave their mark on the 2022 season…
Jack Carthy chasing records
So long is the palmarès of Great Britain’s Jack Carthy that it’s natural to forget he’s just 25. Last year, Carthy became UCI World Champion for the sixth time (his fourth Elite title after two as a Junior), adding to four UCI World Cup victories and five European Championship titles. But the rider from Yorkshire’s not done yet, telling his local newspaper, “Many see me as the greatest of all time already, but if I can beat 12 titles [the existing record], I’m officially the best.”
The specialist in the 26” category has enjoyed a solid block of training back home in Great Britain and is raring to go in search of more victories in his 10th year on the UCI World Cup circuit. Incredibly, all the way back in 2012, Carthy finished third in his first UCI World Cup event, in Aalter, Belgium, at just 15. Two years later, he won the overall UCI World Cup crown while still a Junior, winning three of the five rounds. The rest, as they say, is history.
Keep an eye on Jack on Instagram here
Vera Barón looking to confirm
Spain’s Vera Barón stunned the trials world in 2021 by beating hot favourite from Germany and former UCI World Champion Nina Reichenbach to win the world title. Reichenbach had won the previous four editions but, for once, had to settle for silver.
In Vic last year, the then 17-year-old battled toe-to-toe with Reichenbach before pulling away in round four to secure victory. “It’s crazy that in my second year at the World Championships, I managed to win,” Barón smiled after the race. The young Spanish star also won mixed team gold for an historic double. She’ll be looking to repeat her Vic triumph this weekend.
Vera Barón can be followed here.
Borja Conejos on a roll
Conejos enjoyed a memorable 2021, winning the 20” category at the UCI World Championships, where he beat fellow Spaniards Alejandro Montavo and Eloi Palau into second and third, respectively. Conejos held his nerve to claim victory in the last of the five sections for a total of 240 points. The Spaniard was also part of the mixed-relay team, alongside Barón, that won gold.
It completed a successful year for Conejos, who earlier in the season had won his fourth consecutive Elite 20” Spanish Championships in Tarragona.
Follow Borja’s race season on Instagram here.
Vincent Hermance still going strong
The 37-year-old Frenchman continues to defy the ageing process: he won his first individual Elite UCI World title all the way back in 2007 in Fort William, Scotland (Great Britain). Since then, Hermance has won two further UCI World Championships, in 2013 and 2015, and has four team golds to his name too.
Hermance has trials riding in the blood as his father is Dominique Hermance, founder of the trials bike brands Koxx and Hashtagg. Hermance is looking to remain competitive in 2022, though recently earning a diploma in mountain-biking coaching offers a glimpse into his future.
Discover more about Vincent on his Instagram here.