Monaco dresses up to kick off the 2022 season of the WES UCI E-MTB XC World Cup, as from April 23 to 24 a double date will take place to mark the beginning of a new fight aboard electric bikes adapted to ride the most demanding circuits of the calendar.
The natural landscapes of ‘The Principality’ will host for the fourth consecutive time the start of the championship, this being the third time that it will be under the homologation of world cup. The event will be presented by SMEG, Monaco’s electricity and gas company.
On the women’s side, Nicole Göldi, current UCI E-MTB XC Champion, will begin the defense of her title against tough and competitive opponents. Jacqueline Mariacher, Nathalie Schneitter, Justine Tonso and Estelle Charles will be just a sample of the talent present for the 2022 season.
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On the other hand, Jérôme Gilloux will have to be more punishing in this edition if he wants to maintain his champion status, although he will have an advantage that could play in favor of his performance: He has won all the races contested on the Monaco-Peille circuit, but he will have to be careful against complicated rivals such as Joris Ryf, Théo Charmes, Jeroen van Eck and Kjell van den Boogert.
The Circuit
At 700 meters long and 74 meters of climbing level, the Monaco-Peille circuit will witness a six-lap counterclockwise, 2.15 kilometers per turn, 12.9 kilometers in total and 1,263 meters of climbing for the competition on April 23. A route that at first glance seems “simple” at the beginning because it does not have so many curves, but as it progresses it becomes more complicated with bumpy roads and trails from one side to the other.
Similarly, the second layout for the April 24 race will be run counterclockwise, six laps with a distance of 2.34 kilometers, 14.4 kilometers in total and an ascent level of 1,101 meters. The course itself gives the impression of being less challenging than the first one, but it has sectors where the precision and skill of the riders will be put to the test.
Written by | Ronald Ortega