As the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships continues into its 4th year, we take a look at some of the best places to race the 2021 circuit. Following the success of the last World Final in 2019 where Tommy Zula and Payton Ridenour battled it out with 70 riders from around the world in Bern, Switzerland to take home the first UCI Gold Medal in pump track racing respectively, the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships is back!
Whether your aim is to take home gold or just spend time improving your skills in this adrenalin-pumping sport, here are some of the top locations - from Fukushima to Edinburgh, you can hone your skills year-round.
Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships: LISBON QUALIFIER
The Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships took place this Sunday (October 18th), in Lisbon, with the presence of fifty athletes from four countries. The National BMX Champion, Bruno Cardoso, took the silver after the clash in the final with the Frenchman Dupont. Lisbon entered the international map of the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships circuit with the right foot, after receiving on Sunday (October 18) a qualifying stage with 55 athletes from four countries: Portugal, Spain, France and Latvia. It was like this, by the hand of many big names from BMX and MTB, that the official track of Parque Tejo was inaugurated, in a competitive system with successive duels to the stopwatch that culminated in a great final (female and male) with the two fastest athletes.
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.
Went out to the new pump track today and checked it out! Super windy but we still had some fun!
Sign up for the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships Dutch Qualifier
This year the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships Dutch Qualifier will take place on September 26th in Roosendaal. If you win, you can qualify for the world final in 2021.
A combined edition
Due to global restrictions worldwide, the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships have taken the decision to cancel this year’s edition, which would take place in Leogang on October 9. Instead, Velosolutions, Red Bull and the UCI have decided to combine the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships: 2020 and 2021 qualification seasons to be combined
Due to global restrictions on the hosting of events, the UCI, Red Bull and the Organising Committee of the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships have taken the tough but necessary decision to cancel this year’s edition. The 2020 Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships were due to take place in Leogang, Austria on 9 October. As the cancellation of qualifying events in many parts of the world meant numerous riders did not have the chance to qualify for the Worlds, the organisers did not feel that the 2020 Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships would be truly representative of the world’s best riders. On average, 20 to 30 qualifying events are held worldwide each year, giving athletes the chance to earn entry into the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships.
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.
City money spent the right way. It's nice when the city council decides to spend recreation money on a pump track. What's even nice is when they spend the budget on a good pump track. Velosolutions are known to build good stuff and the new one in Beesel, Netherlands also ticks a lot of the boxes. Grippy surface, well shaped turns, flowy lines and enough rollers to keep you pumping. The good part of these pump tracks is that they're practically maintenance free. A sweep through the turns from time to time is the only thing needed to get the next session going. Of course everything can be bigger and better but for a town like Beesel, this is money well spent. At the end of our session 10 BMX-ers had shown up for a fun afternoon being outside and active. More please!
Pumptrack World Champion Payton Ridenour's Mongoose bike check
Name: Payton “P-Nut” Ridenour
Sponsors: Mongoose, WD-40 Bike, USA BMX Foundation, E6, Shimano BMX, EVS Sports, Answer BMX, HRP Designs, Potter Racing, FLY Racing, Socksmith, Onyx Racing.
Mechanic: Dad
How long have you been riding for Mongoose now?
Payton Ridenour: This is my first year riding for Mongoose and I’m loving it! Since everything’s on hold I haven’t gotten to do too much stuff with the team yet, but hopefully I can sometime soon!
How do you like the feel and look of your bike?
Right about the time Covid-19 was hitting Arizona I had made plans to build a massive pump track in my new backyard. Luckily the the shut down didn't affect our backyard dream build.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.