ACT 4: world record
The 2023 UCI Artistic Cycling World Cup drew to a close on 25 November with the Final in Merelbeke, Belgium.
Among the day’s highlights was the world record set in the ACT 4 competition by Milena Schwarz, Tijem Karatas, Annika Rosenbach and Stella Rosenbach from RV Mainz-Ebersheim (GER). After the disappointment of defeat at the UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, in August and a recently unrecognised world record, the Germans made a clear statement in Merelbeke with a new world record of 245.97, higher than their starting point (243.10) thanks to additional points for tactical exercises. This has never happened before in this discipline. Their performance meant that the four women, undefeated in this year’s UCI World Cup, secured overall victory for the first time.
The eventual runners-up had already bettered the existing UCI world record, setting the bar very high for Mainz-Ebersheim. The current Swiss Champions Stefanie Haas, Valerie Unternährer, Selina Niedermann and Sarah Manser (Uzwil) scored 236.78 points, to take the record from fellow Swiss and three-time UCI World Champions (2014, 2016, 2017) Céline Burlet, Melanie Schmid, Jennifer Schmid and Flavia Zuber, who retired from competition in 2018.
But the European Champions from Mainz-Ebersheim were undaunted, and their display of strength saw them overcome their recent frustrations to establish a new record and finish the season at the top of the table.
There was also a very strong effort from the reigning UCI World Champions Flavia Schürmann, Carole Ledergerber, Stefanie Moos and Vanessa Hotz (Kunstrad Baar/SUI), who nevertheless had to settle for third place on the day and in their overall standings despite their high score of 232.85 points.
Pair Women: almost inseparable
It was a close call in the Pair Women category as the three top finishers were separated by just 56 hundredths of a point. Annice Niedermayer and Jessie Hasmüller (Denkendorf/Magstadt - GER), who were fourth at the UCI Cycling World Championships, won the day's competition – and UCI World Cup overall - with 117.64 points. They were followed by UCI World Championships bronze medalists Sina Bäggli and Julia Hämmerli (Stäfa/SUI), who scored 117.39 points.
Third place went to the UCI World Champions Selina Marquardt/Helen Vordermeier (Stuttgart/Oberjesingen - GER), who are ending their careers. After skipping round three due to an appendix operation for Helen, they had to admit defeat in their last start, with 117.08 points. In the final standings, the defending UCI Artistic Cycling World Cup winners could only finish fourth. Third overall went to Larissa Tanner and Simona Lucca (Stäfa/Dürnten/SUI).
Single Women: incredibly close all season
The incredibly close competition in the Single Women competition is reflected by the fact that there were four different winners throughout the four UCI World Cup rounds in 2023. Last Saturday’s it was UCI World Championships silver medalist Lara Füller (Poppenweiler/GER) who claimed the top spot, with 183.3 points. As a result, she moved up from fourth to second place in the overall UCI World Cup ranking.
Neither UCI World Champion Ramona Dandl (Bruckmühl/GER), with 180.74 points, nor European Champion Jana Pfann (Bruckmühl/GER) with 180.07, nor the winner in Hungary, Alessa Hotz (Baar/SUI) who scored 155.87 points, could surpass the target set by Füller. In the overall standings, Ramona Dandl defended her UCI World Cup title with 420 points ahead of Füller (400), Pfann (385) and Hotz (365).
Single Men: Kohl untouchable
The exceptional Lukas Kohl (Kirchehrenbach/GER) was once again unbeatable in the men's competition. The seven-time UCI World Champion scored 210.55 to secure his fifth overall UCI World Cup with the maximum of 500 points. UCI World Championships silver medalist Philipp-Thies Rapp (Tailfingen/GER) finished in second place in the day's standings with 197.37 points. Third place went to Emilio Arellano (Oberjesingen/GER), who competes for Spain, with 195.5 points. In the overall standings, however, Arellano (380) finished second ahead of Rapp (365).
Pair Open: Rödiger/Styber dominant
In the Pair Open category, the mixed duo of Nico Rödiger and Lea-Victoria Styber (Langenselbold/GER) comfortably won – with a score of 154.04 - to take home the overall victory. The UCI World Champions Serafin Schefold/ Max Hanselmann (Öhringen/GER) did not compete, leaving Rödiger/Styber almost unrivalled.
They were followed by Belgians Jelle Delporte and Lien Pattyn (Wondelgem) at a considerable distance but nevertheless with a new Belgian record.
Looking forward to 2024
The 2024 UCI Artistic Cycling World Cup will comprise four rounds between March and November, including a round in Italy for the first time and in Hong Kong for the second time:
2 March 2024: Tarquinia, Italy
15 June 2024: Hohenems, Austria
11 August 2024: Hong Kong, China
2 November 2024: Oberbüren, Switzerland.