UCI World Champions Tormena & Perrin-Ganier dominate in Leuven

In a remarkable display of speed and determination, UCI World Cup leader Marion Fromberger once again proved her dominance by clocking the fastest time in the qualifying time trials.

Fromberger’s exceptional performance showcased her unmatched skill and propelled her as the top contender heading into the quarter-finals. As the highly anticipated quarter-finals approached, Fromberger was poised to continue her dominance on a fast and furious course. However, fate had a different plan in store for the German athlete, as Fromberger had a mechanical failure when she was pushing herself to the limit.

The atmosphere in the women’s finals was electric, as the crowd was cheering on local favourite Shanyl De Schoesitter. With her blazing speed, she has set the stage for an exciting and highly-anticipated battle as she narrowly missed out on taking her first UCI World Cup, as Gaia Tormena claimed a sensational victory at the UCI World Cup in Leuven, Belgium. The Danish rider Line Mygdam and Dutch rider Annemoon van Dienst came in respectively in third and fourth place, while Coline Clauzure claimed glory in the small finals for fifth place.

Tormena’s remarkable performance not only secured her triumph in the race but also catapulted her to the top of the overall leaderboard. Gaia Tormena now leads the women’s UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup with 24 points over Marion Fromberger. The Dutch rider Annemoon van Dienst sits in third place.

“With tears of joy, I crossed the finish line. My legs weren’t feeling great, as it was hard to get through the heats. It turned out that I made it to the finals, and I gave it all I got to go for victory. It feels amazing to be back in the lead. Last season, I also finished fourth in the first round, and then I won in Leuven to claim the leader’s jersey. I believe this season could be more or less the same as last year. For now let’s think race by race, without pushing myself too much.” – Gaia Tormena

“It’s my second win here in Leuven, as I also became UCI World Champion in 2020. Today in dry conditions under sunny skies is much better than in pouring rain. It was a super tactical race. There was a really strong field of contenders. I tried to stay calm in the finals, especially in the first half lap, and after that, I simply pushed hard. I didn’t have much of a gap left, but I’m very happy with the result. I’m glad Simon Gegenheimer was on my side, as it helped me to save energy for the final heat. I can’t wait to see what Aalen will bring, but I guess we’ll have to play it differently.” – Titouan Perrin-Ganier

With a short break after Round 2 in Leuven, Belgium, it’s time for the riders to shift their focus and begin their preparations for the next exhilarating challenge in Aalen, Germany. The battle for the UCI World Cup leader’s jersey continues next month on July 15th. The competition is intense, and with each race, new excitement and unexpected outcomes unfold.