After the cancellation last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the world’s best artistic cyclists and cycle-ball players can finally battle for the rainbow jerseys. In line with the current regulations surrounding Covid-19, up to 5,000 cycling fans are allowed to follow the action as spectators at the venue.
For David Lappartient, President of the UCI, this event marks the end of the “great silence” in the arenas, “The return of the spectators makes these UCI World Championships very special for all teams.”
Rudolf Scharping, President of the Federation of German Cyclists (BDR), agrees: “I'm really happy that the UCI World Championships are taking place. Fascinating sport, great atmosphere, good organisation, friendly hosts - that's what Stuttgart stands for.”
Eighteen countries represented
Eighteen nations have registered athletes and although restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic means some established countries - Malaysia, Macao, Ukraine and Canada – will be absent, other nations are making their debut at this major international event: Afghanistan and Peru are represented in artistic cycling for the first time.
Excitement is guaranteed over all three days of the competition.
Gold for Kohl?
For four-time Single Men Artistic Cycling UCI World Champion Lukas Kohl (Kirchehrenbach/GER), heading to Stuttgart is a return to the site of his first UCI World title, which he won in 2016. He says: “The UCI World Championships in my own country mean a lot to me. I'm really fit at the moment, well prepared and hot for my World Championship project Stuttgart 21.”
Back in 2016 Kohl’s created a surprise by claiming victory for his debut on the UCI World Championship stage. But this time, the long-time unbeaten world record holder is the clear favourite. He recently underlined this at the UCI World Cup Final in Albstadt, Germany, when, despite an unusual crash during his performance he won with a clear lead in front of Max Maute (Tailfingen/GER).
More home favourites
As at the UCI World Cup Final, where victories went to the German team in every discipline, Germany is programmed for gold and silver in all artistic cycling disciplines at the home UCI World Championships in Stuttgart.
Defending UCI World Champions in the Single Women, Milena Slupina (Bernlohe) and Pair Open Serafin Schefold/ Max Hanselmann (Öhringen), as well as 2019 silver medallists in the Pair Women Caroline Wurth/Sophie-Marie Wöhrle (Gutach) and ACT4 Open Sabrina Born, Nora Erbenich, Annika Furch, Hannah Rohrwick (Worms) all claimed victory in the recent UCI Artistic Cycling World Cup Final in Germany.
Only in cycle ball will a non-German team be the favourite for the UCI rainbow jersey: seven-time UCI World Champion Patrick Schnetzer, together with his new partner Stefan Feuerstein from Dornbirn/Austria. But it will not necessarily be an easy task, especially faced with German cousins Bernd and Gerhard Mlady (Stein), UCI World Champions in 2018.
How to watch
The action can be followed via livestream as the German regional broadcaster SWR offers the live broadcasts on its online platforms. On Saturday, the coverage begins at 4pm CET here and on Sunday 30 October as early as 12:30pm CET here.