Niels Bensink and Drew Mechielsen win the Dutch qualifier for the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships. Boyfriend and girlfriend will qualify for World Final in 2021 together. On the track of Velosolutions at Wielerexperience in Roosendaal, about 100 men and women competed for the Dutch title Red Bull Pump Track on Saturday. A pump track is a track that most resembles a BMX track. The track is undulating and with many curves. By applying the right technique and properly shifting your body weight, you don't or hardly have to pedal to move forward.
In the men's group, the four best riders were two Dutch and two French. BMX World Champion Twan van Gendt eventually finished fourth. Niels Bensink took the win.
So many spots need a visit still but there are so many new places to check these days to do them all at once. The pump track in Roosendaal had been on the agenda since the opening over two years ago. Sometimes it just is like that. But time was on our hands (Covid-19!) and the drive was made on a sunny day. Early departure (09:00hr) to avoid the spot being too busy. The pump track location in Roosendaal can be found at the public cycling park. It's free to ride and free to park and on arrival just a handful of kids were using the giant pumptrack. It was made by Velosolutions so the typical red stripe with arrows showed the direction they wanted you to go. It had plenty to offer so going in the opposite direction to create more lines wasn't needed. The aphalt felt grippier than the asphalt in Beesel which was good as long as you stay on the bike. If not, you'll leave some skin in Roosendaal for sure.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.