The first UCI BMX Supercross World Cup of the year took place in Argentina. The schedule got changed up a bit this year because of the Olympics as last year SDE was on the program as round number 4. Manchester being the typical World Cup season opener, is coming up next followed by Arnhem in May which is the last one before the World's and the Olympics. With two races back to back in the USA, the 2016 World Cup SX season will be ended in Sarasota later this year.
The first race though is always the most exciting. New gear, new bikes, the anticipation of seeing everyone after the winter months and the nerves of who's fast coming into the Olympic year. Points are on the line for qualifying into the Olympics and the turnout of teams, coaches, and athletes was more than decent in Santiago del Estero.
The qualifying racing itself made for good action on the track. Only 48 transfer after three motos meaning 100 of them can go home after three laps. Much better than the Time Trials qualifying from a few years ago, but it still sucks if you have one crash and know you're almost done. All that travel to Argentina and no racing on Saturday is what everyone tried to avoid. Joris Harmsen was feeling good in qualifying race one but lost control on the third straight and went down. With 8 points after round one it wasn't an easy task to transfer but the Dutchman scored two first places and set a fast time on the last lap and squeezed in as the last rider in the top 48 with 10 points.
The stands at the BMX complex in SDE were packed for World Cup number one. Who had trained hard over the winter time? How were the Argentinians going to do with Sam Willoughby, Niek Kimmann, Joris Daudet, Maris Strombergs, etc on the gate? Who would be lucky and who would crash out? In BMX you never really know as anything can happen. 2015 UCI BMX SX World Cup champion Liam Phillips (GBR) won in SDE last year but did not show up in 2016 after a visit to Colombia and Rio the two previous weeks. He opted to get ready for Manchester instead, a race he hasn't lost yet. With 64 qualified riders trying to transfer to the next round you know the racing is fast. There is no easy moto on the gate when the athletes all want (and need) those points. Trent Jones (NZL) and Connor Fields (USA) looked good out there by winning all three qualifying rounds but then, after that, it was a one-lap no crap race with the top four moving on. Joris Daudet (FRA), Sam Willoughby (AUS), Corben Sharrah (USA) and Connor Fields (USA) won their quarter finals. Sharrah and Fields dominated their semi's also. Going into the final race of the day the two had all eyes on them to see who was going to grab the first World Cup win of 2016.
Sharrah pulled the entire field and came out of the first turn in front with Fields right behind him who gained some ground on the second pro-section with his flashy style. But Sharrah is a man with few mistakes and rolled through the roller section on the third straight with easy and dug deep when he saw that finish line in front of him after the last 180 degree left turn. The crowd was on their feet for Exequiel Torres. The 2015 Junior World Champ had made it to the final race and knows how to carve that last turn. It shot him to fourth position but he couldn't pass Amidou Mir (FRA) who crossed the line in third. 5th place was for Time Trials Superfinal winner Tory Nyhaug (CAN) with Van Gendt (NED) in 6th followed by Nic Long (USA) and Alfredo Campo (ECU). The way they crossed the line also is the new order of the 2016 UCI BMX SX World Cup ranking.
What about the women? Although the field was not as deep, it required qualifying racing for the girls too. The top 8 from last year were pre-qualified and raced the Time Trials Superfinal on Friday. It wasn't a surprise that Mariana Pajon won that one as the track in Santiago del Estero, and the loud fans, are one of her favourites. 24 riders made it out of qualifying and together with the 8 pre-qualified athletes, the women class kicked off with 32 fastest ones on Saturday. Although qualified, 2016 World Champ Stefany Hernandez (VEN) did not line up. She crashed on Friday during the Time Trials Superfinals and rang her bell pretty good. Merle van Benthem (NED) had knocked herself silly also and did not start. In fact, during training the medics had a very easy day. That changed as soon as the racing started with riders sending it over the first jump side by side. The qualified medical crew took care of the wounded soldiers and the racing continued.
Many of the people visiting Argentina had caught a virus and were feeling sick which didn't make racing down an 8 meter hill jumping 12 meter gaps any easier. Caroline Buchanan (AUS), Mariana Pajon (COL) and Alise Post (USA) won all three of their qualifying motos and Laura Smulders (NED) came out on top in the fourth group. Pajon and Smulders went 1-2 in semi one while Buchanan and Post went first and second in semi 2. It was clear that these four were going to go for the win in the final. Last year's SDE winner Mariana Pajon and Caroline Buchanan were battling for the lead with the Australian getting out of the first turn in first. The two actually made a gap and left the other six to fight for the last podium spot. Pajon got next to Buchanan on the last straight, but a defensive last turn from Caroline got her enough space to win the race. With Pajon in second the race for third place was won by Laura Smulders who passed Simone Christensen (DEN) who ended up in fourth.
World Cup one in the books. #2 coming up very soon. Stay tuned.
BdJ
Results UCI BMX SX World Cup Santiago del Estero:
Men: Sharrah C (USA) 30.973 1, Fields C (USA) +0.175 2, Mir A (FRA) +0.587 3, Torres E (ARG) +1.203 4, Nyhaug T (CAN) +1.448 5, van Gendt T (NED) +1.656 6, Long N (USA) +2.046 7, Campo A (ECU) +7.145 8,
Women: Buchanan C (AUS) 33.663 1, Pajon M (COL) +0.232 2, Smulders L (NED) +1.538 3, Christensen S (DEN) +1.563 4, Etienne A (FRA) +1.991 5, Crain B (USA) +2.123 6, Post A (USA) +2.532 7, Vanhoof E (BEL) +3.004 8,