Reigning German Champions RMC Stein won their first UCI Cycle-ball World Cup tournament of the season at the third attempt last weekend, as cousins Bernd and Gerhard Mlady defeated Simon König and Florian Fischer of RC Höchst II (AUT) 3-2 in the final in St. Pölten, Austria. Despite losing in the decider, Höchst II remained at the top of the overall standings and, like current runners-up Stein, secured their place at the Final in Willich on 2 December.
Both Stein and Höchst II remained unbeaten to win their respective preliminary groups, with each team scoring 31 goals. Stein eliminated Czech side SC Svitavka 10-4 in the semi-finals while Höchst II recorded a resounding 8-1 win over RV Dornbirn (AUT). Dornbirn later edged Svitavka 6-4 in the third-place play-off.
As part of their European training tour, Hong Kong players Man Fai Lo and Ka Kin Chan made the most of the opportunity to compete in their first UCI World Cup tournament. Hungary was also represented in St. Pölten, but unfortunately both teams went home empty-handed. Bence Krausz and Victor Orcsik (Tatai AC) won the ninth-place play-off 7-3, while local heroes Michael Schlachtner and Manuel Schlachtner (St. Pölten) secured their highest-ever result of eighth place in their fourth UCI World Cup appearance together since 2005.
2017 UCI Cycle-ball World Cup #4: St. Gallen (Switzerland), 14 October
Patrick Schnetzer and Markus Bröll are currently the world’s most successful cycle-ball duo. After teaming up in 2013 they won the UCI World Cup title at the first attempt and have successfully defended it three times since then. Schnetzer and Bröll made a stuttering start to their fifth UCI Cycle-ball World Cup season together, finishing fourth at the second tournament in Altdorf, Switzerland. The Austrian pair are expected to be back on the podium in St. Gallen and will no doubt have their sights set on victory.
Main results :
1st – 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 UCI World Championship s 1st – 2014, 2016 UCI World Cup Finals 1st – 2015, 2016, 2017 UEC Cycle-ball European Championships 1st – 2015 U23 UEC Cycle-ball European Championships 1st – 2014, 2015, 2016 UCI Rankings 1st – 2014, 2016 National Championships 1st – 2014, 2015, 2017 National Cup