The first round of the 2022 UCI Trial World Cup was held last weekend in Vic, Spain, with a top-level course where we highlight the victory of Borja Conejos, Trialworld rider, in the Elite 20 category”.
As for the 26″ category, it was Jack Carthy who climbed to the top of the podium, while in the women’s category the victory went to Nina Reichenbach.
QUALIFYING ROUND
The trials began on Friday, May 27 with the quarterfinals of the men’s Elite 20″ category. The riders were looking to join the likes of Spain’s Conejos in the semi-finals; The local rider had already secured a place in the semi-finals due to his high ranking.
After two laps of the technical layout in Vic, Spain once again showed why it is the leading country in world trials, as Antonio Fraile Arnay, Martí Riera Roura, Ion Areitio Agirre and Domenec Llado Comas went through to the semi-finals as the four riders who scored the most points. Fraile Arnay was in stellar form, recording two rounds of 300 points for an impeccable total of 600 points.
The first event on Saturday was the quarterfinals of the men’s Elite 26″ category. Like Conejos, Great Britain’s Carthy earned a bye to the semi-finals courtesy of their high rankings. Thus, Frenchman Nathan Charra was the protagonist, as the French rider, who had recently been fifth in the Coupe de France in Saint-Gervais, put in two perfect laps to score 600 points. Charra was followed by Spain’s Sergi Llongueras Campmajo (580 points) and Great Britain’s Andrei Burton (550 points) in second and third place, respectively.
WOMEN IN ACTION
During the afternoon in Vic it was the turn of the women.
All the attention was focused on the battle between Germany’s Reichenbach and Spain’s Vera Barón Rodríguez.
Baron had snatched the world title from Reichenbach in Vic last September, denying Reichenbach a fifth UCI world title. Reichenbach is one of the most competitive riders on the circuit, but if she needed extra motivation, this was it.
It seems to have served him well, as he topped the semi-final standings with 550 points. Baron was second with 530 points. Sweden’s Hilda Andersson qualified in third place (470 points).
WOMEN IN ACTION
Sunday’s day began with the semi-finals of the Elite 20″ and the Spaniard Alejandro Montalvo Milla stole the show by qualifying for the final in first place thanks to a score of 490 points.
Dominik Oswald (Germany, 450 points) and Spain’s Eloi Palau Pinyana (410 points) qualified in second and third place, respectively. Borja Conejos came in fourth place with 390 points.
SEMIFINALS
The semi-finals of the men’s 26″ category were held shortly afterwards and Carthy edged out his rivals with 530 points. This was an incredible 150-point lead over second- and third-placed Martí Vayreda Vendrell (380 points) and Daniel Barón Rodríguez.
Then it was time for the final, with the women in first place. It was a replica of the semi-finals, as Reichenbach always seemed to be in control to take first place, with 180 points. Baron was second and Andersson third.
BORJA CONEJOS GREW UP WITH THE PRESSURE
Borja Conejos gets his act together when the situation gets complicated. He did it again to win the Elite 20 final with an impressive score of 240 points. Alejandro Montalvo Milla was second with 200 points, while Palau Pinyana was third with 190 points.
The memorable three days of action concluded with the final of the elite men’s 26″ category, in which Carthy took the honours. The Briton’s 280 points were 90 points ahead of second-placed Baron Rodriguez, while Vayreda Vendrell was third (170 points).
The next round, in Copenhagen, Denmark, will take place from 26 to 28 August.
