17 BMX events in one weekend? Yup. C1 Aigle, Switzerland.

Sep 15, 2024

Written by Bart de Jong

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BMX is in a good spot, at least when it concerns BMX event. From the National BMX Park championships in Italy to the Frogtown Classic in California. From the C1 Maringa comp in Brazil to the Pump Track Qualifier in Canada. From the UEC European Rounds in Belgium to the Scheveningen Beach event with the double backflip train. The BOH in Hastings also happened this weekend as well as the Czech Republic national BMX Park Championships. More racing? Yes, the Legacy Nationals took place in Tulsa, the Iberoamericano race in Lima, and the Swiss Park champs happened in Aigle. Varo Hernandez won a Flatland contest in Madrid, Spain and the UK vert scene gathered for another round in England and some of the French scene gathered for a Miniramp demo which went off. The Western Fair Summit in Canada had the boys ride together We happened to be in Switzerland for the annual C1 competition at the World Cycling Centre and even when so much was happening all over the place riders from Costa Rica, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Slovakia, Hungary, Colombia and Slovenia.

With the annual judges clinic happening at the same time the event was even more international with judges from Argentina, Japan, China, Singapore, Latvia, Chile, and Spian. Getting a taste of judging an event with high level riding.

4 out of 8 women transferred to the final. 12 from 18 made it to the final round in Men Park. With Olympians, national champions and former World Champions present it sure did go off when the Best of 2 runs counted in the final.

Michelle Neuner scored a solid 3rd place with flips, fastplants and good looking no-handers. Finishing behind Olympians Nikita Ducarroz (SUI) and Kim Lea Mueller (GER) isn’t a shame. Kim turned it up a few notches during the final with truckdrivers, backflips, cancan tire grab 360’s Peraza style and one-handed X-ups over the double. It was enough to beat last year’s winner and recently crowned Swiss National champion Nikita Ducarroz who also delivered with flips, wallrides and 360s. Insane level these days….

When Paul Thoelen qualified in 12th with his killer riding and just making it in, it shows how mad the level was in Men Park. Paul did step it up even more in the final to finish 6th. Thomas Tohol delivered an amazing 2nd run to get 5th place points just behind Jaka Remec (SLO) who added extra whips and spins to the tricks he did in qualification. 720 whip, helicopters, triple whips, you get the idea. So sick to see when everything works out as planned. Kristof Krausz (HUN) stepped it up in run two and triple whipped in opposite direction and regular making it look the same. At 18 years old he’s one to watch for future events. But the battle for the win was betweenLuis Rincon (COL) and Justin Dowell (USA). Luis “won” the qualification round with a good margin over Justin but the American was on a mission and wanted to win the Aigle comp like he did last year. He spins, flips and whips in every direction and added a twix in there as well. Luis’ flips over the volcano were scary to watch but he managed to pull ‘em. The flipwhip in his last run was not from this planet. Just like Justin, Luis put the hammer down and did tricks on all ramps in full speed, nailing everything he wanted to do. In the end the difference was a mere 0,6 point with the victory and 2 bottles of Swiss wine from the region going to Justin. The prize money will help with the travel expenses for the upcoming weeks as he’s not done in Europe just yet and adding 200 UCI Ranking points to his name is never a bad thing.

The relaxed atmosphere, the sunshine, gangsta rap all day, BBQ, and killer riding made for a good day in Switzerland. Picking a date for 2025 might be a challenge with so many events happening but make sure you keep an eye out for the C1 date and join the good times next year.

BdJ

Results C1 Aigle, Switzerland:

Men Park:
1 Justin DOWELL 24 USA 200.00 UCI Ranking Points
2 Luis RINCON REYES 26 COL 160.00
3 Kristóf KRAUSZ 18 HUN 130.00
4 Jaka REMEC 19 SLO 110.00
5 Tomáš TOHOL 20 SVK 90.00
6 Paul THÖLEN 26 GER 70.00
7 Péter NÁHLIK 24 HUN 50.00
8 Dean FLORIAN 25 GER 30.00
9 Tom CLEMENS 19 GER 20.00
10 Gamaliet Alexander OSEGUEDA REYES 27 CRC 10.00
11 Juan Camilo CAICEDO HURTADO 22 COL
12 Ryan NYQUIST 45 USA
13 Lars KINDERMANN 17 GER
14 Zoltán KEMPF 28 HUN
15 Xavier WRIGHT 20 CAN
16 Richard KOLEJÁK 18 SVK
17 Edgar HUBER 17 SUI

Women Park:
1 Kim Lea MÜLLER 22 GER 200.00 UCI Ranking Points
2 Nikita DUCARROZ 28 SUI 160.00
3 Michelle NEUNER 21 SUI 130.00
4 Lisa WENISCH 16 GER 110.00
5 Daria DIATLOVA 26 *** 90.00
6 Lucia ČAJKOVÁ 22 SVK 70.00
7 Cory COFFEY 42 USA 50.00
Angelika IŽÁKOVÁ 32 SVK DNS

Pics by Bart de Jong / @fatbmx