Pal Arinsal has set the stage for the first world champions to be crowned at the 2024 UCI MTB World Championships. On a day marked by intense competition, the United States secured the title in the Team Relay (XCR) event, while French rider Jerome Gilloux and Germany’s Sofia Lena Wiedenroth emerged as champions in the e-bike (E-MTB) category.
The United States team, consisting of Brayden Johnson, Nicholas Konecny, Haley Batten, Vida Lopez de San Román, Madigan Munro, and Christopher Blevins, faced a fierce battle with France that wasn’t decided until the finish line. After six laps of the 4-kilometre circuit, Blevins secured the victory for his team with a time of 1 hour, 19 minutes, and 38 seconds, edging out France by just three seconds. Italy completed the podium, claiming the bronze medal.
In the e-bike finals, Germany’s Sofia Lena Wiedenroth dominated the women’s race, completing the 9-lap, 2.4-kilometre circuit in 1 hour and 9 seconds. Switzerland’s Nathalie Schneitter and Chile’s Florencia Espineira Herreros took second and third place, respectively. In the men’s category, France’s Jerome Gilloux reclaimed the world title, finishing the 10-lap race in 1 hour, 1 minute, and 32 seconds. Chile’s Martin Vidaurre Kossmann secured second place, followed by France’s Hugo Pigeon in third.
Spanish Team Shines in Their Debut at the Team Relay
The Spanish MTB team kicked off their participation in the 2024 UCI MTB World Championships with a strong performance in the Team Relay (XCR), achieving a commendable tenth place. This performance in Pal Arinsal highlights the competitiveness and effort of the Spanish team in a discipline that is gaining increasing prominence on the international stage.
The Spanish team started strong, with under-23 rider Francesc Barber handing over the relay in seventh position after an impressive first lap. Estíbaliz Sagardoy, in the elite category, and junior rider Hugo Franco continued the effort, keeping the team in eleventh position. Junior rider Lorena Patiño, in her first year in the category, delivered an excellent leg that allowed Spain to hold their position and pass the relay to Marta Cano. Cano, showing great strength, managed to advance to tenth place, which was ultimately solidified by David Valero in the final relay.
David Valero, one of the leading figures in Spanish MTB, emphasized the importance of the result: “We had a pretty solid team, it’s a very explosive race, and we should be pleased with the performance of the Spanish team; now we must keep working towards the main event, which is the XCO,” Valero stressed, focusing on the upcoming cross-country Olympic race, where the team aims to continue proving their worth.
In addition to the XCR, Spanish cyclists played a significant role in the junior XCO qualifiers held during the day. Among the women, Marta Perxachs stood out with a 17th place finish and a time of 3:32.279, securing her spot in the final. In the men’s category, Oriol Cuadrat impressed by achieving the seventh-best time (2:45.476), positioning himself as one of the main contenders for the podium. Ignacio García Ayora, with a time of 2:51.666, also qualified in 30th place, ensuring Spanish representation in the junior XCO final.
Downhill Takes Centre Stage Today
The UCI MTB World Championships in Pal Arinsal continue today with the thrilling Downhill events, located in the Fontanals area. Yesterday saw the junior downhill qualifiers, where American Asa Vermette and New Zealand’s Erice Van Leuven were the fastest in their respective categories. The junior finals are set to take place from 11:45 am, with new world champions to be crowned.
This afternoon, starting at 3:45 pm, the elite downhill qualifiers will be held, where the world’s best cyclists, including Loic Bruni and Valentina Höll, will aim to secure a good position for the finals on Saturday. It will also be an opportunity to watch Andorran Arnau Graslaub in action as he competes for a place in the final, representing his country at this top-level event.
The Spanish team, following a positive start in the XCR and junior XCO qualifiers, remains focused on achieving great results throughout the championship, with their sights set on the upcoming events that will define the final medal tally.
