The battle for the iconic rainbow jerseys is here!
The UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Championships in Aalen, Germany, are the absolute highlight of the 2024 eliminator season. This Saturday, July 13, the ultra-fast urban track in the hometown of Simon Gegenheimer and Marion Fromberger will be packed with devoted crowds and spectacular obstacles – it promises to be a legendary day!
The riders
Gaia Tormena (ITA) and Titouan Perrin-Ganier (FRA) are the defending UCI World Champions, and will be among the biggest favorites for another year in the iconic rainbow shirts. However, the start lists for Saturday are packed with big names, all hoping to take the rainbow off of Perrin-Ganier and Tormena.
In the men’s race, loads of participants have already proven that they can win a race at the highest level. Edvin Lindh (SWE), Theo Hauser (AUT), Lochlan Brown (NZL) and European champion Ede-Karoly Molnar (ROU) have all taken their first ever UCI World Cup wins this season, while Lorenzo Serres (FRA), Quentin Schrotzenberger (FRA) and Felix Klausmann (GER) have been proven contenders for years.
Riyadh Hakim (SIN) and Dan Noyola (MEX) will be strong representatives from Asia and Latin America, while Sondre Rokke (NOR) and Jeroen van Eck (NLD) are making their comeback to eliminator racing and will be dangerous challengers for sure. And of course, we can’t forget about Simon Gegenheimer, the eliminator legend racing at home. Simon had a bit of a hesitant season so far, but never ever count ‘Mustache Man’ out!
Marion Fromberger, sports adviser for the City of Aalen, should once again be the biggest rival for Gaia Tormena in the women’s category, but don’t be surprised if one of the outsiders takes gold. Coline Clauzure (FRA) is a former UCI World Champion, Lia Schrievers (GER) has proven that she knows how to win in Aalen, Didi de Vries (NLD) is realising her best season so far, Iara Caetano from Brazil has made a strong UCI World Cup debute, while Annemoon van Dienst (NLD), Madison Boissière (FRA), Line Mygdam (DEN) and Shanyl De Schoesitter (BEL) are among the young but dangerous dark horses.
The track
The UCI World Championships track will have few surprises for the seasoned City Mountainbike fans. The fast-paced obstacle-filled course through the charming streets of Aalen has proven itself in the past two years as the stage setting of a UCI World Cup round. The main ingredients: spectacular obstacles, cobbled roads, high speeds and some long straights to offer chances to overtake, with a nice and long sprint in the end!
One thing is clear: #Aalen2024 is an event that you do not want to miss. Spectator numbers in the past UCI World Cup rounds in Aalen have been absolutely spectacular, the atmosphere unforgettable. No doubt: the 2024 UCI World Championships will be one big party, and the local organizing committee still has a surprise side-event waiting to be announced!