The 2021 UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup powered by Kuwait is gearing up for round 3, at Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, on Sunday 22 August.
Italian Gaia Tormena has had a perfect start to the season and Germany’s Simon Gegenheimer has also established a lead in the UCI World Cup overall. But in this discipline, things can change in a split-second, so what can we expect next?
Just like the quickfire action in the breathless city-circuit racing itself, there’s no let-up in the series with three rounds being contested in just three weeks. Many of the riders even squeezed in another race last week at the European Championships, in Novi Sad, Serbia – and after Valkenswaard the UCI World Cup is set to take a short break. Although many of the riders won’t get – or even want – a break as they chase the rainbow jerseys at the UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Championships in Graz, Austria, on 5 September. But first, to Valkenswaard…
It’s a few days over two years since the last UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup round was raced in Valkenswaard, the town of falcons. August 2019 saw Sweden’s Ella Holmegård win the women’s race from Clara Brehm (GER) and home rider Didi De Vries. In the men’s race Gegenheimer won from four-time and reigning UCI World Champion Titouan Perrin-Ganier (FRA) and home rider Lehvi Braam.
Much has changed in the world since then but it will be the same fast, testing course facing this year’s challengers. With long straights where riders pump up to high speed and sharp corners where advantages can be won and lost with daring attacks and brave defences, it’s a town square set-up with cobles, pavers and wooden ramps.
Four countries are represented in the women’s top five riders. In the 2021 UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup, there’s a familiar name at the top of the tree: Gaia Tormena has 180 points thanks to two race wins and two fastest TT qualifying rides. The young Italian’s closest challenger after two rounds is Lia Schrievers on 108 who heads her German countrywoman Marion Fromberger with 95 points. Fourth placed Ella Holmegård follows on 66, with Didi de Vries of the Netherlands heading towards her home round on 65, and with two more riders on 61 points there are close rivalries ongoing.
Tormena was also buoyed by her victory in the European Championships, retaining her jersey with a convincing win the big final, coming in 6sec ahead of Fem Van Empel (NED), Ukraine’s Iryna Popova (UKR) and Noémie Garnier (FRA).
“This is an incredible week. But now, I need some rest for next week’s round in Valkenswaard, my legs feel very tired”, said Gaia Tormena after her victory in Oudenaarde at the 2nd round of the UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup.
“I am super happy with this win. It was a great battle with Marion and Lia. I wanted to lead the entire race, but Marion was close. But I had a strong mind, kept thinking positive, and I made it!”
And in the men’s top five riders, there are also four countries represented. It’s Germany’s Simon Gegenheimer pushing the pace with 150 points after two rounds from Frenchman Lorenzo Serres on 101 and Jeroen van Eck (NED) on 94. In fourth, Perrin-Ganier has 75 points while Belgian Jay Bytebier has picked up 64 from the first two races, both staged in his home country.
32-year-old Gegenheimer soon established himself as the man to beat, and while Serres did just that at the second round in Oudenaarde, it was Dutchman Van Eck, fresh from a second victory in the European Championships (beating Serres, Joel Burman of Sweden and Perrin-Garnier in the big final), who got the fastest TT qualification time.
“Even if you are one of the favourites, everything has to go perfectly to plan, the Dutchman warned last week before he suffered a mechanical problem in the quarter-final. It’s XCE… anything can happen!”
“I wasn’t feeling really great after the European Championships,” said Lorenzo Serres after his victory in Oudenaarde. I knew it was going to be a very, very challenging race. I left a lot of energy during the Euros, but I gave all I had left today, and I am so happy I made it. It was my objective to make it into the finals, but it turned out to be even more.”
The 2021 UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup powered by Kuwait continues at Valkenswaard where riders have points to prove and points to win – and fans are guaranteed more lung-busting sprinting action.