Fifth consecutive UCI World title in the mixed team event for Spain.
Spain claimed victory in the opening trials event of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in front of a passionate crowd at Glasgow Green.
It was a fifth consecutive UCI World team title for the Spanish trialists, whose latest victory came at the UCI Cycling World Championships taking place in Glasgow and across Scotland through until 13 August.
The team competition saw 52 riders - 13 national teams of up between three and five riders each – tackle the obstacles they will face in their individual events in the coming days. Each team comprised riders from the five different categories: Men Junior 20" and 26", Men Elite 20" and 26" and Women. The team with the highest score - an addition of all riders' points - is the winner.
It is a tactical competition, with athletes choosing whether to ride through more difficult gates for potentially more points, or play safe by deciding to go through easier gates with fewer points at stake. The points from all the riders in each team are combined for a team total.
With two minutes each, riders were under pressure from the first whistle…
Finland open with a max of 200
After the first-round rides, Finland was the surprise lead nation with a maximum 200 points thanks to a brilliant ride by Niilo Stenvall (Men Junior 20”). Spain slotted into 2nd with 180 from Daniel Cegarra (Men Junior 26”). France lay in provisional third place with 160 points scored by the hugely experienced former UCI World Champion Vincent Hermance (Men Elite 20”). He is still a reference at the age of 39.
Finland 🇫🇮 is leading the Mixed Team event so far, with Niilo Stenvall the only rider to score 200 points!#GlasgowScotland2023 pic.twitter.com/YhNLk0TyJk
— UCI Trials (@UCI_Trials) August 9, 2023
France hit 200 to go top
In round 2, the top score came from Robin Berchiatti (Men Junior 20”) for France with 200 points. Victor Perez Zamora of Spain (Men Junior 20”) and Adam Morewood of Great Britain (Men Elite 20”) each scored 160 points. Finland was still in the mix thanks to 140 points scored by Cristian Bursi.
It was still a close battle with France on a total of 360 followed by Spain and Finland both on 340!
Weightman delights the home crowd
Round 3 saw standout rides for Oliver Weightman (Men Junior 20”), who scored 190 points for Great Britain, speeding through with 30-sec to spare, a ride that got huge cheers and put the host nation on 410. Austria’s Thomas Pechhacker (Men Elite 20”), who hasn’t had the best season so far by his own high standards, got 160 despite having to rush the final section and falling at speed. Marco Nardinocchi (Men Elite 26”) obtained Italy’s third 140 score out of three rides.
The top spots at mid-competition went to Spain on 430 points, (Women Elite 2021 UCI World Champion, Vera Barón scored 90), Finland also on 430, followed by France and Italy on 420.
Rolls and Conejos hit 190
With Australia, Finland, Italy, Austria and Sweden only fielding three riders, the fourth round was shorter but certainly spectacular.
Charlie Rolls (Men Junior 26”) for Great Britain scored a massive 190 points, whipping up the crowd and putting Britain momentarily into the lead. They knew it wouldn’t last, but there was a chance of holding on to a podium spot.
Spain’s Borja Conejos (UCI World ranked no 2 in the Men Elite 20”) also scored a superb 190 points as light rain started to affect grip and introduce a new challenge.
Luka Pasturel (Men Junior 26”) of France produced a strong 140-point round,
It left the top 3 as: Spain with 620 points, Great Britain on 600 and France with 560.
Baron the class act to seal Spanish victory
The final and deciding round saw France make a last-ditch attempt to get the best of Spain. Louis Grillon (Men Elite 20”) scored 120 for the second-placed team, but the best was saved for last: Daniel Baron (Men Elite 26”) delivered a show-stopping 190-point round to put Spain fair and squarely on top.
Spain finished top with 810 points – their fifth successive victory in the event – well clear of France on 680, while Great Britain’s four riders pleased the crowd with a score of 600 to claim bronze. Germany (including Dominik Oswald and Nina Reichenbach) finished fourth with 540 in front of Finland (430 points).