Christchurch hosted the New Zealand Qualifier today, or is it yesterday, with some fine riders lining up from Australia and New Zealand. In the Men's category @dan_butterworth721 of Rotorua had a big day taking home the first ever NZ Pump Track National Champs yesterday, but he couldn't quite make it a double, being caught up in the Aussie assault in today's race, to finish 3rd overall. All day until the final runs, it would be Aussie @jumpin_josh_1a setting the quickest times, beating his own lap record until the finals where he met fellow country man @ryangilchrist73 , on a hard tail mtb. Ryan would take the honors in a tight battle for the top spot, thereby locking in his 2nd trip to the World Finals.
Latvia! Thank you, Baldone, for a brilliant day of racing, massive support, and some pump track love. Along with the BTA Pump Track and Latvian Champs, it turned out to be a huge day with over 200 riders across the various disciplines and age categories. In the Women’s category, the current World no 3 Vineta Petersone made no mistakes in securing her ticket to the World Final in a cracking time of 14.662. After a difficult season for her so far on the injury front, it sure is good to see her on the top step of the podium again. 2nd place on the podium went to Kitija Dzelzīte.
Helvijs Babris is back with the goods after his first pump track win in 2018 in Estonia. He took the gold today in a time of 13.448 against Latvian, MTB rider Edgars Melnalksnis' time of 13.853 in the final run.
Men:
1. Helvijs Babris
2. Edgars Melnalksnis
Another amazing pump Track Qualifier was held at Hei park Tosovice, Czech Republic! Absolutely good times here. We're not sure what Slovakia has been up to, but man, are they just taking wins left right and center at the moment. We count 4 tickets already to the World Championships.
This time around, it was Daniel HRADSKY's turn to take the top step on the podium in some tight, brilliant racing between the top 4 in the Men's Category. The fastest time of the day belonged to Kristaps VEKSA in a time of 20.713, but Daniel played the game right up to his final run to take the win.
Kristína MADARÁSOVÁ does it again, and yes, for Slovakia. This time on the big bike after her win on the BMX in the UK, she had to take the MTB out for a win too. Which means that a very well deserved ticket goes second placed Julie HEUSEQUIN.
Saint-Laurent-de-la-Salanque, France! What a race, and what a crowd of supporters! Thank you for a BIG day of racing. In the Women’s category, it was a Swiss affair with Christelle Boivin and Eloise Donzallaz battling it out for honors in tight racing that set the tone all day long. Christelle secured the top spot on the podium with the fastest time of the day for the women, clocking in at 19.921 in her final run.
Thibault Dupont is definitely back at full speed, claiming another win here after staking his claim for the rainbow stripes in Switzerland earlier this month with a time of 17.712 in the big final against Anaia Istil.
And it is a win for team Sweden in both the female and male categories today at Isabergstoppen with several international riders from Holland, Slovakia, Latvia and the USA making their way to challenge the Swedish posse on their home turf. The Velosolutions Pump Track itself turned out to be a big part of the battle, being the largest pumptrack in Scandinavia stretching over 2600 m2 and 295m in length.
The women class saw some great battles. The Swedish Champion Felicia Klingstrom spent the entire week in Isaberg preparing for this event looked blazingly fast! In the main event, Felicia went up against Paula Kibare (LAT) and gave everyone a great show where both riders were on the absolute limit. In the end, Felicia stepped away with the win and the ticket to the World Finals.
In the men’s division, the newly crowned Swedish Champion and young gun Love Sylwan immediately
Niels Bensink headed to China for their 2023 UCI Pump Track World Championships Qualifier in Deqing. By Velosolutions
Niels Bensink and Drew Mechielsen headed to China for the UCI Pump Track Worlds Qualifier in Deqing and for the opening of the enormous Shenyang facility located in the popular Yougu River Park on the outskirts of the city.
The Velosolutions UCI Pump Track Worlds Championships is gearing up for a whirlwind journey across multiple countries. Throughout September and October, the Championships will make its stops in Switzerland, Sweden, Latvia, France, Czech Republic, USA, New Zealand, and Canada, setting the stage for the ultimate clash for the coveted rainbow stripes in November. The competition has already witnessed exciting qualifiers in China, Italy, Belgium, the UK, Portugal, and Chile, resulting in an impressive starting lineup for the upcoming World Final. As the dust settles and anticipation builds, the stage is being set for unforgettable battles on the asphalt when race day arrives.
Thal, Switzerland
Thank you for an excellent day of racing Portugal! It was a big line-up today with some tight racing that went down to the wire. Sabina KOŠÁRKOVÁ current World no 2, cracked the win today in Loureira, securing her spot in Argentina in the Women’s Category in a time of 12.920 against Belgium's Julie HEUSEQUIN time of 12.935 in their final runs. A whole 0.015 seconds on the finish line, making the difference here today.
The young Slovakian rider Tommy MISKOLCI took the no 1 spot on the podium today against France's Thibault DUPONT with a 3rd place for Eddy CLERTÉ. It's really fantastic to see Eddy back out there after his massive crash in Chile at the World Final last year. Tommy secured his ticket to Neuquen
In sunny Shenyang in China, competitors from Japan, Russia, Canada, and China lined up for that ticket to Argentina. The Chinese riders and audience were really welcoming and supportive of the athletes from Japan and Russia, and it was Tetsuya Furuno from Japan, and Boris Ponomarev from Russia battling it out all day long in the Men's category. The Chinese riders put on a great show and showed a huge effort but eventually couldn’t match the two riders from Japan and Russia who would come out as the two finalists.
Tetsuya, finalist in the other qualifier in Deqing earlier this year, put up a fierce battle against Boris in his quest for the winner’s ticket to Argentina, but would play 2nd fiddle once again and miss out on the top spot with Boris setting the fasted time of the day in the final run.
Asphalt, also referred to as tarmac, pavement or bitumen - as we like to call it: Black Gold. It is the base of our pump tracks and something we consider to be of very high value. It puts a lot of smiles on ours and many others faces. From building with it, to riding and winning on it. Pump tracks are the future and bring people and communities together. As long as it has wheels, you can shred them. Every track is built to the highest standard and with an eye for detail for the best user experience, over and over again. And who knows better how to build them than Niels Bensink?
He is your current UCI Pump Track World Champion and main shaper and quality coordinator at Velosolutions Canada West. For him it all started 20 years ago building pump tracks in his backyard in
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.