N.sanson.montmartrexce 52 Nicolas Sanson

Fromberger & Molnar shine in a thrilling season opener spectacle in Paris

In the heart of picturesque Montmartre, Paris, the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup unfolded with thrilling battles on an action-packed race course. The cobblestone streets and iconic landmarks set the stage for an exciting competition that had spectators on the edge of their seats at the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. In conclusion, the UEC European Champion, Ede-Karoly Molnar, claimed his maiden UCI World Cup victory in an intense final sprint, while German Champion Marion Fromberger stormed to victory to claim the season’s first UCI World Cup leader’s jersey.

The energy of the crowd added an extra layer of excitement to the season opener, creating a truly unforgettable experience for both athletes and spectators. As soon as the individual time trials started, it was nothing short of intense, as the riders had to tackle a challenging race course on the cobblestones of Montmartre, Paris.

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Marion Fromberger shines in early season success

After setting the fastest time in the qualifying time trials, the German champion Marion Fromberger impressed throughout all heats, to ultimately shine in the big finals, in what was an exciting battle with the UCI World Champion Gaia Tormena in the women’s race.

Italy’s Gaia Tormena put up a strong fight, demonstrating her remarkable skill throughout the race, but Marion Fromberger didn’t give up and they both went neck-to-neck. The German champion’s decisive move after the uphill pushed her ahead of the competition, holding on to her position, and ultimately clinching the top spot, with Gaia Tormena securing a well-deserved second place.

French rider Margaux Borrelly surprised the home crowds and finished in a respectable third place, while Annemoon van Dienst from the Netherlands had to settle for fourth place. The Pan American champion Iara Caetano Leite won the small finals and completed the top five.

Ede-Karoly Molnar claims his maiden UCI World Cup victory

Thibaut Kahlhoven had a brilliant start in the men’s qualifying time trials on home soil, as he set the fastest time, but got ruled out in a tight sprint among Ede-Karoly Molnar and fellow French rider Loïc Tournillon in the quarter-finals.

In the men’s finale, Ede-Karoly Molnar impressed yet again with a sensational performance, claiming his first-ever UCI World Cup victory in an extremely tight sprint battle. Molnar faced stiff competition from Edvin Lindh of Sweden, and the Slovenian champion Jakob Klemencic. With a powerful bike throw across the finish line, he secured a historic win ahead of Edvin Lindh. The Slovenian champion, Jakob Klemencic, had to settle for third place, while Titouan Perrin-Ganier, the UCI World Champion, was cheered on as he finished in fourth place.

Titouan Perrin-Ganier commented: ‘The races were extremely hard, but the enthusiastic crowds and iconic race venue in my home country made it a truly unforgettable spectacle, so I can be very happy after today. It’s just the beginning of the season, so let’s focus on the next round in Barcelona.” Perrin-Ganier’s teammate Simon Gegenheimer won the small finals and rounded off the podium in 5th place.

Finish line quotes

“It went really well, I didn’t expect to make such a good start to the season”, Marion Fromberger smiled. “It’s amazing to win in Paris on this scenic venue in front of the Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre. I’m happy to wear the first leader’s jersey, but it was a tough battle, as Gaia Tormena made it such a hard race. After coming down the stairs section, I thought the race was over, but I kept pushing and it went well.”

“I think it’s one of the best days of my life. I finally won a UCI World Cup. I’m looking forward to defending my leader’s jersey, but it’s also the first race, so anything can happen in the coming rounds, but I’ll do my best”, Ede-Karoly Molnar enjoyed his win. “It feels very special to win my first UCI World Cup round in the UEC European Champion jersey. I can’t wait for the remainder of the season.”

With the next round already around the corner and another opportunity to shake up the standings, the second round of the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup in Barcelona, Spain, next weekend, featuring a new race course, promises nothing short of an adrenaline rush.