![Seaotter 2023 84294 Cropped](https://www.citymountainbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/seaotter-2023-84294-cropped-900x514.jpg)
![Glenn Peeters – CTM Valkenswaard Low Res 3](https://www.citymountainbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Glenn-Peeters-CTM-Valkenswaard-low-res-3-900x600.jpg)
European champions reign in Valkenswaard
After two exciting rounds in Belgium, the UCI Mountainbike Eliminator World Cup moved to the Netherlands this weekend for the third round that took place in Valkenswaard. With Gaia Tormena and Jeroen van Eck the reigning European champions did what they had to do and won the race. They will for sure go to the UCI World Championships in Graz, Austria in two weeks aiming to trade the blue stars for the rainbow stripes.
![Glenn Peeters – CTM Valkenswaard Low Res 9](https://www.citymountainbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Glenn-Peeters-CTM-Valkenswaard-low-res-9-900x600.jpg)
Three for three for Tormena
Gaia Tormena was up for revenge in Valkenswaard. In 2019 she didn’t make it past the ¼ finals here after slipping on the wet asphalt, but today she dominated as always by setting the fastest time in qualifying and storming through the heats like a torpedo. Today the track was dry… until a few minutes before the start of the finals the rain started pouring. Marion Fromberger and Ella Hölmegard finished second and third with Didi De Vries on 4 and newcomer Isa Looienga, winner of the small final on 5 to complete the UCI World Cup podium.
It goes without saying that Gaia Tormena continues to lead in the general classification. Her advantage over the second ranked Marion Fromberger extents already to 115 points.
![Glenn Peeters – CTM Valkenswaard Low Res 8](https://www.citymountainbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Glenn-Peeters-CTM-Valkenswaard-low-res-8-900x600.jpg)
Van Eck in front of his home crowd
Dutchman Jeroen van Eck was also aiming to win in his European champion’s jersey for the first time after a small mechanical kept him from defending his chances last week in Oudenaarde. In front of his home crowd, he set the pace in qualifying with a fastest lap almost half a second faster than second place Anton Olstam.
![Glenn Peeters – CTM Valkenswaard Low Res 11](https://www.citymountainbike.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Glenn-Peeters-CTM-Valkenswaard-low-res-11-900x600.jpg)
“Thanks to my tires”
Gaia Tormena said she was super happy with her tires. “On the wet track, my tires gave me a lot of grip so I didn’t even have to slow down. The best tires I’ve ever ridden!”. Van Eck: “In the final it was a question of finding enough grip. I went all out from the start, hoping to take the lead before the first corner so I could ride my own lines. Just before the finish I felt Anton coming and protected the inside line, which costed me some speed, but I was still fast enough to win”.