World BMX Freestyle championships are underway...

Dec 21, 2024

Written by Bart de Jong

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The 2024 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships brought riders to the spotlight after two days of acclimating to the fields of play. Returning to the Nation Towers parking lot, which hosted the BMX Park event in 2022, the setup had a fresh design this year. Featuring ramps painted in new colors, the course showcased a spine, box jump, hip, and volcano nestled between quarter pipes of varying sizes. While the space wasn’t the largest ever, it provided enough elements to thrill the audience. Meanwhile, the flatland arena surprised many with its updated design. The oval from 2022 was replaced by a 15-meter-diameter circular platform. Built with three layers of wood, the sturdy structure enabled riders to execute their most impressive combos with confidence.

On Thursday, December 19, qualifications for Men’s Flatland and Park categories kicked off. Riders aimed to advance to the semi-finals, with 12 competitors progressing in Flatland and 24 in Park. Staying in contention is vital, as only those who make it through have a shot at the podium by the event's end.

Friday, December 20, marked the next round of eliminations. Under a sunny sky, Men’s Park riders returned to the course after Thursday’s night-time qualifications. Jordan Clark of Great Britain, a five-time scooter world champion, made an explosive debut in his first major BMX competition. His 88.00-point first run secured the highest score in the semi-finals, a remarkable achievement.

The British team as a whole performed strongly, with Dylan Hessey taking 2nd, Kieran Reilly

finishing 6th, Jude Jones in 9th, and Shaun Gornall placing 10th. Unfortunately, Reef Way narrowly missed the final, finishing 22nd. Among international stars, Paris 2024 Olympic gold medalist Jose Torres Gil earned 3rd place, displaying his skill on the volcano ramp. Rimu Nakamura (JPN), the 2022 Abu Dhabi UCI World Champion, qualified 4th and will compete alongside Logan Martin (7th), Justin Dowell (5th), and Kieran Reilly (6th), all former world champions. The stage is set for an electrifying final.

Venezuelan legend Daniel Dhers wrapped up his career with a respectable 19th place finish, just shy of qualifying for the final. Although he won’t compete further, Dhers’ contributions to BMX Freestyle will always be remembered. Friday’s Women’s Park qualification saw another BMX legend, Cory Coffey, compete in her final world-stage event. The first woman to perform a backflip on a BMX bike, Coffey ended her career in style, landing another backflip in her last run.

In the competition, team China demonstrated dominance, but Hannah Roberts (USA), a five-time world champion, broke their streak by taking 2nd place with an 86.90 average. Sun Sibei claimed the top spot with an 88.19 average, while Fan Xiaotong (3rd), Zhao Shuhua (4th), Lei Shanshan (5th), and Sun Jiaqi (6th) showcased China’s depth of talent. The final promises fierce competition, with Roberts and the Chinese riders all vying for gold.

In Women’s Flatland qualification, Japan’s Ayuna Miyashima and Kiara Nakagawa secured the top two spots, earning the advantage of competing last in the finals on Saturday. Hungary also showed its growing strength in this discipline, setting the stage for an exciting showdown.

For Men’s Flatland, the semi-final reduced the field from 12 to 8 competitors, representing seven nations. Under the lights on Friday night, extraordinary performances highlighted the global reach of BMX Flatland. By the end, Japan and France dominated, with Yu Shoji and Yu Katagiri leading the way for Japan and Matthias Dandois shining for France. Jean-William Prevost kept Canada in the mix with a strong 4th-place finish.

As the competition heads to its conclusion, the finals promise to be the pinnacle of the championships. The crowning of new Park and Flatland champions for 2024 will undoubtedly be a spectacle to remember. Who will take home the 2024 World titles? The answer lies ahead.