In the beautiful surroundings of Geneva the first edition of the Geneva Classic Crit was held. The Geneva Classic Crit has a one of a kind circuit that is 1.4k long. It starts with a 600meter uphill part with a maximum gradient of 7% leading to the top of the plateau, followed by a relatively flat part, and then the most tricky and technical part comes with a 600 meter downhill with three corners that demand true bike skills. Due to the intensity of the downhill section, the organisation, led by Frenchman Maxime Poisson from Sportunit, decided to do a qualification and a separate A and B final to make the field of each race just over 20 riders to increase the safety.
Text: Brian Megens
Photography: David Bussidan
In the Men’s A final it were Olivier Leroy from Aventon Factory Team, Brian Megens from Fixedgearcrit.com, Loic Jacob (Team GFC Evad), Felix Lhenry (Team Look Criterium), and Adrian Merkt from Schindlauer that separated themselves from the rest of the field. Within 6 laps it was Adrian who had to let the others go due to a broken front wheel. A lap later it was Brian Megens who attacked but Olivier Leroy who countered powerfully. The group did not have an answer to Olivier’s attack and he would go solo for the victory with Brian Megens coming in 2nd 20 seconds after him, and Loic Jacob crossing the finish line 50 seconds after Olivier. Adrian still managed to finish 4th despite losing around 1.5 minutes due to a wheel change. 
In the Men’s B and women’s final, it was clear from the start that the field would be totally spread and multiple riders got lapped. Eléonore Saraiva, the top favourite in the women’s field, didn’t have good legs and pulled out of the race quite quickly. Lisa Wörner, an Olympic rower that recently switched to the fixed gear sport riding for FGC, took the iniative closely followed by Camille Udny. It was Camille who eventually attacked and dropped Lisa riding solo to the victory. With Lisa Wörner riding for Fixedgearcrit.com coming in 2nd and Laura Dubuis from Elles Font Du Vélo coming in 3rd.
The men’s B final was dominated by Alfred Robillot from Les Alligators Seynod Triathlon who took the win before race director Maxime Poisson riding for Dijon Mustard Crew x Sportunit, and Quentin Galerne complemented the podium.
Podium Men’s A
1. Olivier Leroy – Aventon Factory Team
2. Brian Megens – Fixedgearcrit.com
3. Loic Jacob – GFC Evad
Podium Women
1. Camille Udny – Team Look Criterium
2. Lisa Wörner – Fixedgearcrit.com
3. Laura Dubuis – Elles Font Du Vélo
Podium Men’s B
1. Alfred Robillot – Les Alligators Seynod Triathlon
2. Maxime Poisson – Dijon Mustard Crew x Sportunit
3. Quentin Galerne
