Tormena & Perrin-Ganier dominate the world

The UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Championships in Palangkaraya, Indonesia, unfolded in an exciting battle, as Gaia Tormena from Italy and Titouan Perrin-Ganier from France showcased their strength in defending their rainbow jerseys. The two Eliminator stars successfully retained their titles for another year. The spectacle drew a large audience to the Tuah Pahoe Stadium, where spectators were treated to the face-off between the world’s top riders, representing nearly 40 different nations.

Gaia Tormena claims her fourth rainbow jersey

The competition among the participants was intense. However, it was Gaia Tormena, the Italian sensation, who stood out. She set the tempo by knocking the fastest time in the qualifying time trials and delivering an impressive performance in the heats, earning her a spot in the finals.

The defending UCI World Champion had a lightning-fast start, and she swiftly took the early race lead, narrowly followed by German rider Marion Fromberger, who unfortunately crashed. Spectators were filled with excitement as local rider Dara Latifah displayed formidable strength, ultimately holding off Annemoon van Dienst for the silver medal. It was a well-deserved achievement in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. Unfortunately, Marion Fromberger had to settle for fourth place after an unexpected chain drop.

Iara Caetano, a top contender from Brazil, missed out on the big finals but proved her dominance in the small finals, securing fifth place overall.

Titouan Perrin-Ganier secures his sixth UCI World Champion title

Despite Edvin Lindh from Sweden clocking the fastest time in the qualifying time trials, a crash in the semi-finals relegated him to the small finals, where he demonstrated strength and claimed fifth place overall.

The men’s finals began with a highly competitive fight for the first position, with German rider Simon Gegenheimer taking the lead with the fastest start. The defending UCI World Champion, Titouan Perrin-Ganier, then surpassed his teammate. Shortly after, Gegenheimer slipped in the descent of the rock garden. Fellow French rider Lorenzo Serres and Norway’s Sondre Rokke were narrowing the gap on the defending UCI World Champion, with Rokke closing in on Perrin Ganier’s wheel during the second lap. However, The Norwegian’s pursuit came to an end as he crashed on the same descent where Gegenheimer had slipped. Perrin-Ganier seized the opportunity for a clear run and went solo to claim his sixth rainbow jersey.

Lorenzo Serres secured another medal for France, securing the silver, while Norwegian rider Sondre Rokke rounded out the podium with the bronze. Regrettably, Gegenheimer had to be satisfied with fourth place.

Finish line quotes

“I am super happy, but very emotional at the same time. It was a long journey to get here. I began my season in February, and it’s now mid-November, so I’m quite exhausted. I’m thrilled to end the season on such a high note. Looking back at these great results, I can finally enjoy my off-season now. In my mind, I had three different tactics and kept changing them as I watched my opponents’ races to understand their strategies. My goal was to take the lead as quickly as possible and maintain it. This tactic proved to be the most effective one.” – Gaia Tormena

“It was a really tough day, with a high level from the 1/8 finals. In the final, there was chaos when Gegenheimer and Rokke crashed after the rock garden but I pushed myself harder and managed to win. Despite the postponement due to forest fires, we remained focused on our goal. I would also like to thank my family for their support. Today was a team and family effort, and I’m grateful to have won. The crowd in Palangkaraya was amazing.” – Titouan Perrin-Ganier