ELIMINATOIR World Cup : Norway takes 2/2 in Winterberg

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Norway takes 2/2 in Winterberg

What a race it's been! Cowbells started to ring at Kurpark Winterberg, as the Germans were getting ready to see their local riders making the best of their home race. Although it was Norway's Torjus Bern Hansen who surprises his contenders and wins round 4 of the 2017 UCI MTB Eliminator World Cup in Winterberg (GER) ahead of European Champion, Titouan-Perrin-Ganier and Dutchman Jeroen van Eck. Frenchman Lorenzo Serres moves into the lead and is seeking to defend his title in Apeldoorn next Sunday (03/09). See results

Watch the highlights from round 4 in Winterberg #UCIMTBWC

All eyes on Germany's favourite Simon Gegenheimer, currently sitting in third is looking forward to the race course in Winterberg. "I've always dreamed of winning a World Cup title on German soil. The race course suits me very well and I'm sure we can make something happen here," he added.

4x Trial World Champion Kenny Belaey as "special guest" The Belgian Red Bull athlete trained intensively for taking part in the Men's Eliminator. Although it was more of a first step towards the Urban Worlds in Chengdu: "Why not give it a try?".

Lorenzo Serres moves back into the leader's jersey Winner of round 1 in Volterra, the 19-year-old Lorenzo Serres moves back into the leader's jersey, as Mingorance and Gegenheimer missed the finals. Serres was the fastest on the time trial with an average of 28.43 km/h. Belgian champion Fabrice Mels made his comeback after being away for school and took a satisfying third place.

1. Lorenzo Serres (FRA) 2. Alberto Mingorance (ESP) 3. Simon Gegenheimer (GER)

Hard work pays off for Hansen. A story of the 21 y/o Norwegian. Torjus Bern Hansen narrowly secured a spot in the finals and held off MTB Eliminator World Cup leader Alberto Mingorance in the semi-finals. "I still can't believe I could come away with a victory. I've had plenty of bad luck in the past four months. To be able to come back this way is unbelievable. It means a lot to me. I wouldn't be able to win here without the support of my sponsors and family," Torjus told City Mountainbike. See his way to glory

Two leaders in the women's Eliminator Ingrid Boe Jacobsen (second in Waregem) wins the women's Eliminator ahead of Lizzy Witlox (NED) and Aline Seitz (GER). Witlox and Boe Jacobsen both now have 100 points.

Finals The start didn’t go as expected for Simon Gegenheimer. He slipped away in the second corner and did not quality for the quarter-finals. Frenchman Titouan Perrin-Ganier went on the attack several times but got caught back by van Eck and Serres. Dutchman Jeroen van Eck found himself in a good shape and made it to the podium as third. However, it was Norway's Hansen who beat the European Champion Titouan Perrin-Ganier in a neck-and-neck sprint to the finish. Spain's Alberto Mingorance was forced to chase after coming out of the starting blocks as fourth. He finished in 7th place. German riders Felix Klausmann is the first German in fifth place, ahead of Heiko Hog in sixth. Italian champion Andrea Menichetti came in as 8th.

Mingorance feeling relaxed ahead of Apeldoorn "I didn't had the legs as I had at Saturday's XCC. I missed some power in the second lap and came in as third in the small finals. I thought I'd be able to perform well both days", says Mingorance. "It's not over yet. I'm still in second, which obviously I'm happy about. Anything can happen in the next two rounds."

Frenchman aims to defend title in Apeldoorn next Sunday