Mels victorious in Vallnord World Cup eliminator

As was the case in the women's race, the men's eliminator at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup had a new face at the top step of the podium for round 4 at Vallnord, Andorra. Fabrice Mels (Salcano Alanya) took the men's win, but Daniel Federspiel (Otztal-Scott) all but assured the overall title with a fifth place finish.

In the men's competition, none of the winners from the first three rounds made it to the final, pointing to the growing depth of competition in this event. Mels, the Belgian champion, was clearly in a class of his own; qualifying first and riding away from his competition in every heat. He was joined in the final by Catriel Andres Soto (Wild Wolf Trek), Titouan Perrin Ganier (Focus/Rotor/Coaching-System.fr) and Simon Gegenheimer (German National). Conspicuously missing were usual favourites Federspiel, Slovenian Miha Halzer and round two winner Kenta Gallagher (Superior Brentjens).

Mels took the lead by the first corner and looked to have race won, but had a scare in the singletrack when he unclipped and almost crashed, before recovering. He had enough of a lead still to cruise in ahead of Soto, with Perrin Ganier a distant third.

"I went too fast and missed a pedal so I lost a bit of grip with the tire and I was trying to avoid the trees and stuff," said Mels. "I am happy I made it alive. It was close. Normally sprint races are not so technical as this one. In the forest I decided to do my own thing, and I train a lot in the technical stuff so that is my thing. So I am happy I could do well on this track.

"Personally [this win] means a lot. I never thought I could win a World Cup. I am right above my head right now. I still have not got it. It is too much at once."

Despite finishing only fifth, Federspiel actually gained on his main rivals, who scored only a few points in Vallnord. After four events of five, Federspiel has 158 points, followed by Gegenheimer at 99 and Halzer at 95. The Austrian only needs to score two points in the final round at Hafjell, Norway to clinch the title.

Full Results

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Big Final
1Fabrice Mels (Bel) Salcano Alanya
2Catriel Andres Soto (Arg) Wild Wolf Trek Pro Racing
3Titouan Perrin Ganier (Fra) Focus/Rotor/Coaching-System.fr
4Simon Gegenheimer (Ger)
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Small Final
5Marcel Wildhaber (Swi) Scott Swisspower MTB Racing Team
6Daniel Federspiel (Aut) Ötztal Scott Racing Team
7Fabien Canal (Fra) ASPTT Definitive Tec
8Patrick Lüthi (Swi)
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1/4 Finals
9Martin Gluth (Ger)
10Kevin Miquel (Fra) Veloroc Lapierre
11Philip Buys (RSA)
12Andy Eyring (Ger)
13Kenta Gallagher (GBr) Superior Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team
14Simon Stiebjahn (Ger) Team Bulls
15Jan Nesvadba (Cze)
16Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel) Versluys Team
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1/8 Finals
17Thibault Geneste (Fra) Scott La Clusaz
18Christian Pfäffle (Ger)
19Antoine Bouqueret (Fra) Scott La Clusaz
20Krystof Bogar (Cze)
21Adria Noguera Soldevila (Spa)
22Fabian Rabensteiner (Ita) Focus XC Italy Team
23Sepp Freiburghaus (Swi)
24Jose Maria Sanchez Ruiz (Spa)
25Markus Bauer (Ger)
26Neilo° Perrin Ganier (Fra) Focus/Rotor/Coaching-System.fr
27Miha Halzer (Slo)
28Peteris Janevics (Lat)
29Stefan Peter (Swi) Strübi MTB Kader
30Gerard Alvarez Ortega (Spa)
31Maxime Herold (Fra) Calvisson VTT
32Adrian Retief (NZl)
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Overall Eliminator Standings
1Daniel Federspiel (Aut)158pts
2Simon Gegenheimer (Ger)99Row 1 - Cell 3
3Miha Halzer (Slo)95Row 2 - Cell 3
4Fabrice Mels (Bel)88Row 3 - Cell 3
5Kenta Gallagher (GBr)64Row 4 - Cell 3
6Christian Pfäffle (Ger)60Row 5 - Cell 3
7Catriel Andres Soto (Arg)56Row 6 - Cell 3
8Marcel Wildhaber (Swi)56Row 7 - Cell 3
9Titouan Perrin Ganier (Fra)48Row 8 - Cell 3
10Fabien Canal (Fra)45Row 9 - Cell 3
11Thomas Litscher (Swi)41Row 10 - Cell 3
12Andy Eyring (Ger)34Row 11 - Cell 3
13Philip Buys (RSA)32Row 12 - Cell 3
14Raphael Gagne (Can)25Row 13 - Cell 3
15Stefan Peter (Swi)23Row 14 - Cell 3
16Martin Gluth (Ger)20Row 15 - Cell 3
17Thibault Geneste (Fra)20Row 16 - Cell 3
18Sepp Freiburghaus (Swi)16Row 17 - Cell 3
19Mirco Widmer (Swi)16Row 18 - Cell 3
20Patrick Lüthi (Swi)14Row 19 - Cell 3
21Lehvi° Braam (Ned)12Row 20 - Cell 3
22Simon Stiebjahn (Ger)12Row 21 - Cell 3
23Kevin Miquel (Fra)10Row 22 - Cell 3
24Jeroen Van Eck (Ned)10Row 23 - Cell 3
25Jan Nesvadba (Cze)8Row 24 - Cell 3
26Gregor Raggl (Aut)4Row 25 - Cell 3
27Heiko Gutmann (Ger)4Row 26 - Cell 3
28Axel Lindh (Swe)2Row 27 - Cell 3
29Erik Groen (Ned)2Row 28 - Cell 3
30Kevin Van Hoovels (Bel)1Row 29 - Cell 3
31Julian Schelb (Ger)1Row 30 - Cell 3

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