World Champs take the win at Charade on Day 2

Göldi takes the lead and Gilloux consolidates it

Clermont-Ferrand (France) Sunday 24 July 2022 – The second day at the Circuit of Charade was another great day of top-level competition with exciting changes both in the race classification and in the overall standings.

Once again this weekend, Reigning World Champion Nicole Göldi (Trek) was the fastest woman rider in the morning’s Qualirace, taking the Raspini Pole Position for the third time out of 6, today along with the Men’s World Champ, Frenchman Jérôme Gilloux (Lapierre). The Champs lead the Pole Position standings in their respective categories.

Starting in first position, Göldi took the Holeshot but then Justine Tonso (Lapierre) managed to overtake her and maintained the lead for the first two laps with a strong race pace, ahead of the World Champ and the Swiss Champ Nathalie Schneitter (Trek/Bosch). The top 3 were followed by local enduro rider Laura Charles (Miranda), German Sofia Wiedenroth (Specialized) and Catalan Sandra Santanyes (Trek), in these positions till the end of the race. On lap 3, Tonso started slowing down and let Göldi take the lead back, while Schneitter was getting closer and put herself in 2^nd two laps later. A solid Göldi took the win, fellow Schneitter finished 2^nd and Tonso eventually completed the podium of Race 2.
Göldi now grabs the World Cup Leader’s Jersey from Tonso and their battle will resume after the break in August.

In the Men’s race, Gilloux started in pole position, next to Joris Ryf (Bergstrom) and Emeric Ienzer (Scott) on the grid. Yesterday’s victory contender Hugo Pigeon (Scott) was out for health reasons, and today Ryf was the fastest at the start and took both the Holeshot and the race lead, ahead of the World Champ and fellow Fabio Spena (Specialized/Bikebox). 

Thirsty for victory after Race 1 disappointment, Gilloux pushed hard and took the lead on lap 2, ahead of Ryf and Spena. “The Specialist” managed to maintain it till the end, securing his race win n. 5 out of 6 and widening the gap with the rider from Bergstrom in the overall standings. Ienzer finished 4th and Loïc Nöel (Specialized/Cycles Prof) 5th, followed by Valentin Remondet (Flyer).

The fastest lap was set by Justine Tonso and Joris Ryf in their respective categories, who took the Magneti Marelli Power Lap Award. 

The current WES overall standings represent the ranking to access the UCI World Championship one-shot race, as the top 15 Women plus the top 15 Men have quota places for the qualification. This crucial event for the riders will take place next Friday 26 August in France and both Göldi and Gilloux will fight to defend their rainbow jersey. The next WES stop will be after the Summer break, on 3-4 September, for the first time in Belgium, at the iconic circuit of Spa-Francorchamps.

Results and Standings available HERE Download the Photo Gallery HERE Download this Press Release in PDF HERE