The Norwegian town of Hafjell is the final venue of the UCI World Cup this year. The World Cup overall ranking in the XC Eliminator was previously just a question of form. In both the men's and women's categories, the leaders Daniel Federspiel (Ötztal) and Alexandra Engen (Ghost Factory) were almost uncatchable in the lead. Only an injury or a retirement in the first round could have prevented her from winning the overall title.
As many expected, things turned out differently. Both fought their way confidently into the finals. In the women's race, it was Sweden's Jenny Rissveds (Scott) who celebrated her second win of the season. She relegated the South Tyrolean Eva Lechner (Colnago) and her compatriot Engen to their places.
In the men's category, German champion Simon Gegenheimer (Rose UltraSports) secured the first World Cup win of his career with a clever overtaking maneuver just a few hundred meters from the finish line. In the final he relegated the Swede Mathias Wengelin (Specialized) and the Argentinian Catriel Andres Soto (Wild Wolf-Trek). Fourth place was enough for the Austrian Federspiel for overall victory.
Federspiel and Engen are the first overall World Cup winners in the history of the XC Eliminator.
//Men
1. Simon Gegenheimer (Rose UltraSports)
2. Mathias Wengelin (Specialized)
3. Catriel Andres Soto (Wild Wolf Trek)
4. Daniel Federspiel (Oetztal)
5. Kenta Gallagher (Superior Brentjens)
//Women
1. Jenny Rissveds (Scott)
2. Eva Lechner (Colnago)
3. Alexandra Engen (Ghost Factory)