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
Italy, you beautiful thing! Thank you for hosting at your new, incredible venue @vittoriapark_official , we could not have asked for a more immaculate setting for the Italian Qualifier. In the Women’s category it was current World Champ Christa von Niederhaeusern who took no prisoners and showed exactly why she is wearing those rainbow stripes by securing her 1st place on the podium in a time of 20.438 against newcomer Zoe Feuvrier from France. It was a third place for Slovakia’s Kristína NOVÁKOVÁ and a 4th for Sara FARINA.
Local rider Mattia Costerman secured his place in Argentina in a time a time of 18.630 against
With a high level racing on the Velosolutions Pump Track setting the tone for the day and with more than 65 riders registered riders, and some heavy hitters on the start line, the racing was intense with the like of @alecbobster, @rezende500, @pedroburns and @brunolavagninomtb leaving everything on the track to fight for the 4 spots in the Men’s category. But it was the current World no 2 @alecbobster that took the top place on the podium, his fastest time of the day coming in at 23.799 secs in his semi-final run. 2nd place went to @brunolavagninomtb with a 3rd place for @sebamendez154
In the Women’s category, after some great and exciting riding, it was local and legend of a rider @reny_urrutia that took home the ticket to Argentina, with a second for Isidora Garcia and a 3rd place
Belgium Qualifier. Gommers and Van Tiggel fast in Middelkerke
It’s was an insanely windy and cold day for May on the 295m long and technical Velosolutions Pump Track in Middelkerke. It was a Belgian double podium with AIko Gommers and Didi van Tiggel taking the tickets to Neuquen. Very little separated Aiko and Robyn at the end of the finals, Aiko finished her final run in a time of 32.560 and Robyn came in with 32.654. In the Men’s it was Didi van Tiggel and Anaia Istil all day long with Didi breaking that 29 seconds of the day with a time of 28.473. Timo Windau took the 3rd place in 30.560 against Max van Eijndhoven’s 34.979. Newcomer, youngster and definitely one to watch for the future was Zika Decoster.
Results
Germany, it sure was good to be back for the first race in a busy schedule of European Qualifiers! Füssen never disappoints and what a day of racing. Thrills, spills and thunderstorms we saw it all at skatebikepark. A first place finish and a ticket to Argentina for Tristan Borel and newcomer from Germany Alina Beck. Second place for Belgian rider Didi van Tiggel and current UCI pump Track World Champ Christa von Niederhaeusern with a third for Philipp Schaub who is back from injury and @kmadarasova from Slovakia.
Women's Category
1. Alina BECK
Thank you China. What an excellent way to kick off the 2023 race for the rainbow stripes! The monster of a @velosolutions Pump Track in Deqing played host and 425m in total length of track set the scene for the showdown today. In the Men's category, local rider Chen Jiayang took the winners ticket to Argentina with a time of 45.71 against Japan's Tetsuya Furuno. Tesuya's final lap time came in at 46.64 sec. It was a fierce battle between the two riders all day long, but that number 1 belonged to Chen after a very long day of racing.
In the Women's category the trip to Neuquen in November belonged to Zhao Wanting. She was the fastest qualifier and consistently kept that lead right through to the end to take the top step on the podium.
Results:
UCI Pump Track World Championships 2023 news and upcoming dates!
The new season of the UCI Pump Track World Championships is kicking off soon, 4 weeks to go to the first race day!
The below dates are already open for registration:
-Deqing, China on April 29th
-Paris, Texas USA on April 29th
-Fussen, Germany on May 6th
-Middelkerke, Belgium on May 13th
-Hawick, United Kingdom on May 21st
-Saint Laurent de la Salanque, France on May 21st
-Vittoria Bike Park, Italy on May 28th
-Shenyang, China on July 29th
-Loureira, Portugal on July 29th
-Thal, Switzerland on September 2nd
-Isaberg, Sweden on September 9th
-Heipark, Czech Republic on September 16th
A few more races that will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
While in Switzerland for the MXGP we also managed to find a Velosolutions pump track in the town the Grand Prix was held. This one was actually huge and had two sections; one for beginners and a longer one for more advanced users. The fence around it defined the spot and keeps lunatics in cars or other large vehicles out of the pump track. Sounds strange, but we've seen photos.....
Once again the Velosolutions pump track was well designed with no flat sections or misplaced turns. The triple turn was cool as well as you were leaning into that turn three times and generated speed at the same time to jump the three doubles right after it.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.