WHOOP UCI 2024 Mountain Bike World Series: greater than the sum of its parts

Cross-country marathon: all tight at the halfway stage

An amazing week of mountain biking in France’s Haute-Savoie region saw the different formats come together for a celebration of cycling in the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series, making this showcase week greater than the sum of its parts.

Different venues within Haute-Savoie hosted different formats: round four of the enduro (EDR) and E-enduro (E-EDR) was fought out at Combloux simultaneously with the second cross-country Marathon (XCM) round in Megève. Just a few days later, Les Gets played host to the downhill (DHI), cross-country short track (XCC) and cross-country Olympic (XCO). The excitement built to a crescendo, with the Olympic format the jewel in the crown as attention will steadily move from the Alps to the French capital, ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Enduro: Combloux debut

Morgane Charre was dominant in Combloux, new to the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series calendar, winning five of six stages. The Frenchwoman built a commanding lead on home soil, finishing 23 seconds ahead of overall leader Isabeau Courdurier (FRA). Ella Conolly (GBR) took third place. It leaves Courdurier top with 1844 points from Great Britain’s Harriet Harnden (1693). Charre moves up to third on 1524.

Richie Rude claimed his third win in four UCI World Cup rounds, without winning a stage in Combloux. The American finished 2.199 seconds ahead of two-stage winner Luke Meier-Smith (AUS), with Alex Rudeau (FRA) third.Rude extended his lead to 1837 points from Poland’s Sławomir Łukasik (1450) and New Zealander Charles Murray (1443), with Rudeau waiting in the wings.

E-enduro: French reign at home

The six-stage Combloux course was greasy in practice, then baked dry for race day. Estelle Charles (FRA) won the women’s event from Florencia Espiñeira (CHI), +5.617, who lit up five sections green, compared to Charles’ three! George Swift (NZL) was third.

The men’s fastest stage times were spread more evenly, but Antoine Rogge’s dominance on Stages 3 and 4 were matched to three 2nd-fastest times and nothing below 6th, to put him top for a French double. Damien Oton (FRA) was 2nd with Ryan Gilchrist (CAN) 3rd.

Cross-country marathon: all tight at the halfway stage

Round two of the four-round UCI XCM World Cup saw Bosnia-Herzegovina's Lejla Njemčević win the women’s race by 13 minutes from USA’s Rae Hannah Otto, with Namibia’s Vera Looser (round one winner) getting the better of Switzerland’s Janina Wüst. Njemčević leads with 450 points from Looser’s 410, and Wüst (300).

In the men’s race, it was the battle of the rainbow bands with Colombia’s Leonardo Páez (2019 and 2020 UCI World Champion) finally winning by 1:38 from Germany’s Andreas Seewald (2021 UCI World Champion). Italy’s Samuele Porro finished third. Fabian Rabensteiner (ITA) retains the overall lead with 390 points from Páez (330) and Porro (320).

Downhill: debut win and past master

Changing weather conditions brought fresh challenges to a favourite venue, Les Gets.

The Women Elite spills included Nina Hoffman (GER), UCI World Champion Valentina Höll (AUT), and home riders Marine Cabirou and Myriam Nicole. There was a first victory for European Champion Eleonora Farina (ITA) from Mille Johnset (NOR), with Tahnée Seagrave (GBR) in third.

“In my mind at the start I said ‘Eli, stay on your bike’,” said Eleonora Farina. “After ten years I can say I won my first UCI World Cup. I’m so stoked!”

Would it be a French celebration in the Men Elite? After Benoît Coulanges slid out chasing South African Greg Minnaar’s early hotseat, Loris Vergier followed suit and Loïc Bruni played safe. But the win went to Amaury Pierron, following his Italian victory in Val di Sole. He held a 6.4-second advantage over Andreas Kolb (AUT) with Minnaar in third. Pierron passes Australian Troy Brosnan to close in on Bruni’s overall lead.

“The fans were insane,” said Amaury Pierron. “It was a beautiful day!”

Cross-Country: who’s ready for the Olympics?

The week-long celebration of mountain biking came to a climax with the cross-country. After Friday’s XCC – where Alessandra Keller (SUI) and Alan Hatherly (RSA) won – the Olympic-distance races in Les Gets were the main event.

In dry weather Puck Pieterse (NED) won the Women Elite race ahead of a superb Candice Lill (RSA) and Keller. The Swiss rider retains the overall lead from the Dutchwoman and Haley Batten (USA).

“Now I know that if I have good legs then I can do it from the start,” said Puck Pieterse.

Hatherly achieved the men’s double, outpowering Mathias Flückiger (SUI), with Simon Andreassen (DEN) beating Italian Luca Braidot for third. Overall, Hatherly moves ahead of the Swiss pair of Nino Schurter and Filippo Colombo.

“I kind of visualised the double, and I’m so happy to have executed it!” said Alan Hatherly. “A good sign for me leading to the Games around the corner.”