Glenn Peeters – CTM Leuven Snel Full Res + Logo 24
Glenn Peeters – CTM Leuven Snel Full Res + Logo 24

Gegenheimer and Tormena win season opener in Leuven

After some exciting battles, German Simon Gegenheimer and Italian Gaia Tormena have won the Belgian opening round of the 2021 UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup in Leuven.

Glenn Peeters – CTM Leuven Snel Full Res + Logo 24
Glenn Peeters – CTM Leuven Snel Full Res + Logo 24

Gegenheimer and Tormena win season opener in Leuven

After some exciting battles, German Simon Gegenheimer and Italian Gaia Tormena have won the Belgian opening round of the 2021 UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup in Leuven. See you next week in Oudenaarde!

The historic city center of Leuven, last year’s stage setting for the UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Championships, was the perfect venue to kick off another season of spectacular and intense MTB eliminator action. Participants from thirteen countries and five continents have come to Belgium for this Sunday’s opening round in Leuven and next week’s race in Oudenaarde.

Glenn Peeters – CTM Leuven Snel Low Res + Logo 10
Glenn Peeters – CTM Leuven Snel Low Res + Logo 10

'Moustache' is back!

Things started perfectly for the experienced Simon Gegenheimer in Leuven: ‘Moustache’ set the fastest time in the opening time trial, beating Jeroen van Eck and the surprising Felix Klausmann. The 1/4 finals and 1/2 finals following the TT didn’t spring any surprises: with UCI world champ Titouan Perrin-Ganier, Van Eck, Gegenheimer and local hero Jay Bytebier, the opening round of the UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup had the best final we could wish for. Gegenheimer controlled things in it perfectly, winning comfortably in front of Van Eck, Perrin-Ganier and Bytebier. Lorenzo Serres placed fifth after bringing home the small final.

Glenn Peeters – CTM Leuven Snel Low Res + Logo 2
Glenn Peeters – CTM Leuven Snel Low Res + Logo 2

'Torpedo' strikes again

Gaia ‘Torpedo’ Tormena didn’t miss any target during the opening round of the 2021 UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup. The young Italian dominated the time trial, won her semifinal, and had a significant margin in the final race of the day. Quite some revenge for Gaia after last year’s close miss in the UCI World Championships on the very same track. German Lia Schrievers and Marion Fromberger flanked Tormena on the podium in Leuven, while Chimène Boer from The Netherlands and South African Mariske Strauss (winner of the small final) completed the top five.

Glenn Peeters – CTM Leuven Snel Low Res + Logo 8
Glenn Peeters – CTM Leuven Snel Low Res + Logo 8

Reactions

“I’m really happy with this win. This was a cool race to start the season: I really like to play with my bike on the technical City Mountainbike tracks!”, Gaia Tormena said. “I’ll enjoy this win today, but I’ll change my mindset tomorrow to aim for the next races coming up: some more big appointments with City Mountainbike, and the European championships.”

“Unbelievable: this felt so good”, Simon Gegenheimer enjoyed his win. “After two seasons with no win, I’m finally back. I had a great day: I felt well in every heat, but in the second lap of the final, my legs started feeling tired. But I just gave my all, always felt the front wheel of Jeroen in my back, but just gave him no chance. Crazy, I was the strongest today!”

Results

Of course, Gegenheimer and Tormena are also the first leaders of the 2021 UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup, with still seven exciting rounds to come!

Men’s results – UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup Leuven

1. Simon Gegenheimer (GER)
2. Jeroen van Eck (NLD)
3. Titouan Perrin-Ganier (FRA)
4. Jay Bytebier (BEL)
5. Lorenzo Serres (FRA)

Women’s results – UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup Leuven

1. Gaia Tormena (ITA)
2. Lia Schrievers (GER)
3. Marion Fromberger (GER)
4. Chimène Boer (NLD)
5. Mariske Strauss (RSA)

FULL RESULTS

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