Graz has already hosted the UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Cup twice. Now the coronation follows in the Styrian capital: On September 5th, the world champion will be determined in the spectacular eliminator competition! The Tyrolean Daniel Federspiel is at the start as the greatest hope for a medal for Austria.

Graz remains “like a world champion”: After the Special Olympics Dance Sport World Cup on August 20th, the next big sporting highlight will follow. On September 5th the will take place in downtown Graz UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Championship across the stage. The spectacular mountain bikers, who - similar to ski cross in winter - ride and jump over obstacles in a 4-person heat, have already been guests in the heart of Styria twice. World Cup races were held in 2018 and 2019, and due to the great backdrop and great organization, the international association awarded the World Cup in Styria. The World Cup should have taken place last year, but Corona thwarted the bill. But this year it should definitely work out with the World Cup - it fits perfectly in the sporting year anyway. “Let's Go Eliminator WM” will be the name of the game on September 5th!

The route in Graz has changed slightly compared to the last two editions. The start and finish is on Karmeliterplatz, then it goes down Hartiggasse, past historic buildings such as the Schauspielhaus and Alte Universität, and after a nice walk around Freiheitsplatz via Ballhausgasse and Sporgasse back to Karmeliterplatz. "The route is even more spectacular and will demand everything from the drivers," the two organizers agree Werner Madelencnik (Easy Drivers cycling school) and Felix Felberbauer (e | motion management) agree.

The field of starters shows that Graz is extremely popular with mountain bikers. The créme de la créme in the Eliminator competition has called for the world championship. 14 women and 33 men will be at the start on Sunday, including the great personalities in this sport. World champions have been determined in the eliminator competition since 2012. If you had to give a winner's tip, you would probably name an athlete for the men: Titouan Perrin Ganier. The Frenchman won the world championship title four times in a row from 2017 to 2020, and in the heart of Styria, victory will probably only come from him, after all, he knows the (half) route from 2019. At the last Eliminator World Cup he was he behind his compatriot Hugo Briatta (also at the start) second. Incidentally, Perrin-Ganier has already triumphed three times at European Championships (2017, 2018 and 2020).

However, the two French have to really pedal if they want to become world champions - because with Simon Gegenheimer (Germany) and the reigning European champion Jeroen Van Eck (Netherlands), two men come to the Styrian capital, who are dominating the World Cup this year: Gegenheimer made it onto the podium three times in three competitions (1st, 2nd and 3rd), Van eck won the last race in Valkenswaard and was second in the first race in Oudenaarde. The Swede is not to be underestimated either Anton Olstam, who took third place in the overall World Cup behind Gegenheimer and Vaneck.

For the women, there could be the Italian anthem for the winner in Graz - at least that would not be surprising. Because Gaia Tormena, the 2019 world champion and three-time European champion (2019, 2020 and 2021), won all three world cup races this year. And she also knows Graz very well, after all, she finished second in the World Cup two years ago. Lia Schrievers and Marion Fromberger (both Germany) as well Ella Holmesgard (Sweden) are likely to be their biggest competitors in the battle for the World Cup crown.

The fact that Europe sets the tone in the Eliminator can be clearly seen from the starter field. 14 nations (see info) will be there in Graz, only two drivers with good names are not from Europe: the Mexicans Daniel Castillo Noyola and Fierro Proano Erick Ramiro from Ecuador. Austria is sending a total of 14 riders to the World Cup, some of them very talented, young hopes in mountain bike sport. The Tyrolean Daniel Federspiel the greatest chances of winning a medal are certainly attributed to it, he won the Eliminator premiere in Graz in 2018. The spectators (free admission along the route!) should pay special attention to the Styrian Theo Hauser (Giant Stattegg) place. Last year he won the national championship in the Eliminator, this year he finished second behind Federspiel.

After a qualification (from 14 p.m.) the finals of the best 32 men and 16 women will be held in the knockout system (from 16 p.m.), i.e. four mountain bikers always go on the track at the same time and complete two laps - the two fastest riders get on the next lap until the gold, silver and bronze medals are won in the grand finale.

Austrian medal hope

The entry deadline for the World Championship is not yet, so the final field of participants for women and men has not yet been determined. But what is already fixed: Daniel Federspiel will compete for the World Cup medals in Graz and thus be Austria's greatest hope for a medal. The 34-year-old Tyrolean knows the track in downtown Graz very well, after all, he won the first World Cup in the city in 2018. He already said at the time that the route was “extremely casual” - now it has changed slightly compared to 2018, but is no less attractive.

Incidentally, Federspiel knows exactly what it feels like to be world champion: He won the world championship title in Vallnord (Andorra) in 2015 and in Nove Mesto na Morave (Czech Republic) in 2016. In addition to Federspiel, the Upper Austrian will also start Elias Tranninger in the elite competition. A further eleven drivers will be competing at the World Championship for Austria in the U23 and Juniors categories.

Kids Race and Youth Race

The young mountain bikers can also prove themselves at the world championship. Three short-track competitions will be held between the qualification and the final, with girls and boys in the respective age groups competing together. The first race (U9 and U11) lasts ten minutes, the second (U13) over 13 minutes. The conclusion is that for the U15 and U17 drivers, which is scheduled for a duration of 15 minutes. The route is adapted to the respective classes, each category is rated separately. The competitions are part of the Raiffeisen Rad-Nachwuchs-Trophy Steiermark 2021 powered by Energie Steiermark (information here: https://www.lrvsteiermark.at/cup)

Let's go pump track!

On the day before the UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Championship, children and young people can experience mountain biking up close under the motto “Let's Go Pumptrack” and feel like little “eliminators”. First experiences with the bike can be gained on a specially constructed pump track and e-scooters can be tested. All equipment - bikes, helmets and e-scooters - is provided free of charge. The participants are looked after by trained cycling instructors from the Easy Drivers cycling school and receive tips and tricks on the right technique. There is no need to register in advance - just come there on Saturday between 14 and 17 p.m. and take part! Afterwards, the drivers who will compete for the world title on Sunday will be presented and the world championship will be officially opened.

UCI Mountain Bike Eliminator World Championship:

Program on Sunday, September 5th:

13.30pm to 13.55pm: Training

14.00:14.25 p.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m .: Qualification for the final

14.30pm to 14.45pm: Training

14.50:15.55 p.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m .: Kids Race & Youth Race (followed by award ceremony)

16.00:17.25 p.m. to XNUMX:XNUMX p.m .: Final

17.30 p.m. to 17.45 p.m .: Awards ceremony

From 19.00 p.m .: Riders Party

Route:

Start: Karmeliterplatz, then Hartiggasse, Freiheitsplatz (Old University), Hofgasse, Ballhausgasse and Sporgasse to the finish on Karmeliterplatz

Austrian participants:

Elite:

Daniel Federspiel (Tyrol)

Elias Tranninger (Upper Austria)

Category U23:

Lena Hoeller (Styria)

Dominik Bruner (Styria)

Franz Josef Laesser (Styria)

Dominik Gassner (Upper Austria)

Category Juniors:

Valentina Gruber (Styria)

Lena Ladstatter (Styria)

Fiona Klien (Lower Austria)

Katharina Sadnik (Carinthia)

Theo Hauser (Styria)

Jonas Kreiner (Styria)

 Jacob Riemer (Styria)