Day two of the 2024 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Pal Arinsal, Andorra, saw Erice Van Leuven (New Zealand) successfully defend her Women Junior downhill rainbow jersey. Asa Vermette (USA) is the new Men Junior downhill UCI World Champion. 

VAN LEUVEN RETAINS HER RAINBOW STRIPES

Taking to the start hut in Pal Arinsal (Andorra) were 20 Junior Women representing 14 nations.

Riding with the Number 11 plate, 2nd fastest qualifier Ella Svegby (Sweden) knocked 14 seconds off the previous fastest run. Heather Wilson (Great-Britain), winner of three UCI World Cup rounds in 2024, struggled and finished 19th.

It was only the Kiwis who could compete with Svegby’s time: Eliana Hulsebosch was the first rider to get within 10 seconds of the Swede. Sacha Earnest finished within 6 seconds of Svegby to finish third, as she did in Fort William, Scotland (Great Britain) in 2023.

Then it was all down to fastest qualifier Van Leuven who pulled out a sensational run to light every sector green and win for the second successive year.

1. Erice Van Leuven (NZL) in 2:59.891 
2. Ella Svegby (SWE) +6.357
3. Sacha Earnest (NZL) +12.180

VERMETTE SHOWS PURE CLASS

Fifty-nine riders representing 19 nations started the Men Junior final. When third-fastest qualifier Bode Burke (USA) set a time of 2:41.699 - more than 3 seconds faster than every previous rider - there were six more riders still to go.

New Zealand’s Tyler Waite came close to the American’s time, but it was only the last two riders, fastest qualifier, France’s Max Alran (with two UCI World Cup wins this year) and USA’s Asa Vermette (three UCI World Cup wins so far in 2024) who could go quicker than Burke. 

1. Asa Vermette (USA) in 2:39.185 
2. Max Alran (FRA) +1.516
3. Bode Burke (USA) +2.514

On Friday, men and women UCI World Champions will be crowned for Junior cross-country Olympic (XCO) as well as Elite and Under 23 cross-country short track (XCC).