The overall winners of the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup powered by citymountainbike.com have been crowned: Sweden's Edvin Lindh took home the title for the first time thanks to an exceptional season, while Italy's Gaia Tormena once again dominated and finished on top of the overall standings for the fifth time.
The two riders were the most consistent throughout the six rounds of the UCI World Cup, which featured exciting races in Europe, Asia and South America. Here's a look back at the season.
It got off to a flying start with two back-to back rounds in Europe in April. The first round, in Paris, France, was won by Ede-Károly Molnár (ROM) and Marion Fromberger (GER). Lindh and Tormena both finished on second place.
The second round took place a week later at an iconic venue for the Eliminator format - Barcelona, Spain. Tormena returned to her winning ways, ahead of Annemoon van Dienst (NED) and Marta Cano (ESP). Lorenzo Serres (FRA) won the men's race ahead of Nils-Obed Riecker (GER), with Lindh taking valuable points with a 6th place.
In May, the teams headed to Palangkaraya, Indonesia, where Lochlan Brown (NZL) won ahead of Riyadh Hakim Bin Lukman (SGP), Hauser and Serres, while Lindh reached the quarter-finals and finished 13th. In the absence of Tormena, Didi de Vries (NED) took the lead in the women's race ahead of Madison Boissière (FRA) and Vipavee Deekaballes (THA).
A week later, the UCI World Cup continued in Sakarya, Turkey. With overall leader, Lorenzo Serres, and UCI World Champion, Titouan Perrin-Ganier, pushed into the small final, it was Lindh who took his first UCI World Cup victory.
“This feels so special! I already had two second places and a bunch of fifth places, but from today's qualifiers, I knew I had the legs to make it happen,” he said at the finish.
Tormena consolidated her lead in the overall standings by winning ahead of De Vries.
With the riders back in Europe in June, the fifth round took place in Leuven, Belgium. This time, Hauser got the better of Lindh in the final, with Serres on third. Tormena took another fine victory, this time ahead of France's Coline Clauzure. With De Vries finishing on 9th place, the Italian star was assured of the overall title.
After a break, that saw Gaia Tormena and returning Dutch rider Jeroen van Eck crowned UCI World Champions in the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Championships, the UCI World Cup travelled to São Paulo, Brazil, in August for what would become the final round of the season. Lindh and Fromberger were victorious, both holding off the Brazilian favourites in their finals.
“It was wonderful racing here”, said Edvin Lindh. “When I heard the Brazilian crowds going wild, I knew someone was close to me. I was really afraid that the Brazilian rider would try to pass me on one of the obstacles, but I managed to keep some distance and take the win!”
2024 UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup powered by citymountainbike.com:
Final overall standings - Men
Edvin Lindh (SWE), 496 points
Lorenzo Serres (FRA), 403
Theo Hauser (AUT), 376
Ede-Károly Molnár (ROM), 301
Nils-Obed Riecker (GER), 170.
2024 UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup powered by citymountainbike.com:
Final overall standings– Women
Gaia Tormena (ITA), 440 points
Didi de Vries (NED), 371
Madison Boissière (FRA), 329
Marion Fromberger (GER), 302
Coline Clauzure (FRA), 209.