European Championship win for Gaia Tormena

After recently securing the 2023 UCI Cross Country Eliminator World Cup, Gaia went into the UEC Mountain Bike Eliminator European Championships in Sakarya, Turkey, as one of the hot favourites. In the heats leading up to the final, Gaia set the fastest overall time, further underlining her strong form, impressive handling skills and determination to cross the line ahead of the rest onboard her BIG.NINE.

Her what she had to say after the race:
"It's surreal, five consecutive years as the European champion – it's truly unbelievable. I could never have imagined such a journey back in 2019. Today's race was exceptionally tough, especially with Sakarya's demanding course and the uphill section. However, I felt a bit let down by my sprint on the first straight section. I managed to stay on Marion's wheel until I saw an opportunity to pass her at the first corner. I'm satisfied with how I handled the race. With just one race left, the UCI World Championships, I'm already very happy with my current season. One-day races are always full of surprises, but I'll give my absolute best for Palangkaraya."

To watch the race, please click here (race action from 38:02 – 40:25 minutes, followed by the interview at 47:05).

A big CONGRATULATIONS from the MERIDA family.