The battle for the iconic rainbow jerseys is here!

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.