Women’s results - UEC Mountain Bike Eliminator European Championships - Sakarya (TUR)
1. Gaia Tormena (ITA)
2. Marion Fromberger (GER)
3. Annemoon van Dienst (NED)
4. Didi de Vries (NED)
5. Coline Clauzure (FRA)
Ede Molnar and Gaia Tormena claim European XCE titles
The UEC Mountain Bike Eliminator European Championships in Sakarya, Türkiye, witnessed a thrilling finale battle, which saw Ede Molnar from Romania and Gaia Tormena from Italy emerge as the new European champions.
Ede Molnar and Gaia Tormena claim European XCE titles
The UEC Mountain Bike Eliminator European Championships in Sakarya, Türkiye, witnessed a thrilling finale battle, which saw Ede Molnar from Romania and Gaia Tormena from Italy emerge as the new European champions. The event’s date was significant as it marked Türkiye’s 100th anniversary of The Turkish Republic, adding some extra energy and excitement to the day. The stunning European Champion jersey stood as the ultimate prize in this competition, drawing a large crowd of spectators who had gathered to witness the showdown among Europe’s top riders.
Ede Molnar writes history for Romania
The qualifying time trials witnessed intense competition, and it was the Frenchman Quentin Schrotzenberger who set the pace with the fastest time. His performance was nothing short of spectacular. Despite his outstanding performance, he narrowly missed advancing to the semi-finals after a closely fought sprint in the quarter-finals.
The men’s final was a nail-biting contest, filled with jaw-dropping action that had fans on the edge of their seats. Ede Molnar, representing Romania, navigated the challenging course with grace and precision, leaving behind his competitors, UCI World Champion Titouan Perrin-Ganier and Nils Riecker, who secured second and third place, respectively. Sadly, Theo Hauser had to settle for fourth place after his chain unexpectedly dropped. Lorenzo Serres clinched fifth place by emerging victorious in the semi-finals.
Gaia Tormena takes her fifth consecutive title
During the qualifying time trials, Gaia Tormena from Italy once again set the fastest time, outpacing all other competitors. The women’s finals kicked off with an intense battle for the top spot, with riders striving to secure their positions right from the start. Gaia Tormena, Dutch champion Didi de Vries, and German rider Marion Fromberger bursted out of the gate with tremendous speed, putting on an impressive performance. The defending European Champion, Tormena was closely pursued by German rider Marion Fromberger, but Fromberger couldn’t keep pace with Tormena’s incredible performance, and Tormena raced to victory.
Tormena was well on her way to securing her fifth European Champion jersey, while Marion Fromberger settled for second place. Annemoon van Dienst managed to hold off her fellow Dutch companion Didi de Vries in a closely contested duel for the bronze medal. Coline Clauzure from France, who won the semi-finals, rounded out the top five.
Finish line quotes
“I can hardly believe it! Romania has won another European title. After Vlad Dascălu’s XCO victory earlier this year, we have now taken home the XCE title as well. It feels absolutely amazing to be at the top of the podium. From the first heat, I could hardly believe my luck as I kept winning throughout the heats, even in front of Titouan Perrin-Ganier. Every heat was a long sprint going uphill, and when I saw that Theo Hauser had broken his chain right after the start, I knew I could win. I am so happy with this title!” – Ede Molnar
“It’s surreal, five consecutive years as the European champion – it’s truly unbelievable. I could never have imagined such a journey back in 2019. Today’s race was exceptionally tough, especially with Sakarya’s demanding course and the uphill section. However, I felt a bit let down by my sprint on the first straight section. I managed to stay on Marion’s wheel until I saw an opportunity to pass her at the first corner. I’m satisfied with how I handled the race. With just one race left, the UCI World Championships, I’m already very happy with my current season. One-day races are always full of surprises, but I’ll give my absolute best for Palangkaraya.” – Gaia Tormena
Men’s results - UEC Mountain Bike Eliminator European Championships - Sakarya (TUR)
1. Ede Molnar (ROU)
2. Titouan Perrin-Ganier (FRA)
3. Nils Riecker (GER)
4. Theo Hauser (AUT)
5. Lorenzo Serres (FRA)
