First World Cups of the Season! 2024, UCI BMX WC R1+2, Rotorua, NZ
New season, new gear, new bike, new training programs, new countries, new tracks.... How does one prepare? We sat down with Niek Kimmann at TLD in Corona to find out more on his off season.
First of all, we know you and your brother as BMXers with a passion, trying to suck everything up in the BMX world and take everything in. How come you needed a BMX break after becoming the Olympic Gold Medalist?
Niek Kimmann: Yeah, I had a 3-month break from BMX. I simply had enough of it. When I became World Champion for the first time, I was in a similar situation. At one point you reach a new level which comes with new responsibilities. You train for races. When you win those races, it comes with responsibilities that you're not prepared for. You're young, you listen to advice from others, you must do this, you must do that....but you're inexperienced yourself so you take everyone's advice but at some point...pause... The reason I started riding BMX is because I liked doing it. At one point so many things get added to your life which are overpowering the sole reason why you started riding BMX. It's not that you forget why you ride, but expectations are up and that makes it hard riding your bike just because you love riding your bike. When I became World Champ back in 2015 I made that mistake and I think that after the Tokyo2020 Olympics I fell in the same trap and I simply had to stop and did not race for a little while. For myself I had to delete all results and titles and had to get back to the core of why I ride. I like to race because I love racing. Even if I would never win a race again, I would still like it.
Made a quick trip down to Phoenix to race the USABMX Winter Nationals in Black Mountain.
Manchester Mini-Trip! December 2023 by Niek Kimmann
Video of my trip to Santiago del Estero, Argentina, for the final World Cups of the 2023 UCI BMX World Cup series. Round 7&8 the first weekend with round 9&10 the second weekend made for a long trip in Argentina. My season hadn't been the best, so with 4 races here, it was a good way to try to finish on a high.
Riding Bikes in Scandinavia! - 5 Day BMX Road-Trip by Niek Kimmann
2023 UCI World Cup R3+4, Papendal, The Netherlands by Niek Kimmann
I know I'm 3 weeks late, but here it is, the video of my trip to Sakarya, Turkey for the 1st and 2nd round of the 2023 UCI BMX World Cup Tour.
Back on the BMX after Breaking my Collarbone! By Niek Kimmann
2023 Season Opener (and Broken Collarbone)! USA BMX LoneStar Nationals, Houston, TX by Niek Kimmann