FATBMX Your Online BMX News Resource Since 1998

good company. If the photos seem a bit 'one-angled', there's your reason.

The UEC European Cup season came to an end in The Netherlands with rounds 7 and 8. It was supposed to be round 9 and 10 but one stop (Rnd. 7 & 8) got canceled. In these times that is still a possibility and it sucks. But in general, after showing your proof of vaccination QR code, it feels like we're back to normal. There was even a Festival happening right next door and several activities were set up such as a mini ramp, pump track, food trucks, big air bag, and more. 7500 tickets were sold and it was hard not to be entertained.

But back to the track for the BMX racing. Next to the Olympics, the UCI World's, UCI World Cups and continental championships, the UEC series gives the racers an opportunity to get together and race on a high level. The series is even open for non-Europeans to participate and we noticed that some have stuck around since the Papendal World's back in August. After the last two stops it was clear which 2 countries are doing well in Elite Men today: France and Switzerland. The top 8 of the final standings don't have a place for any other country in it. Congrats to Sylvain André on the overall win. It shows that the Frenchman simply loves to race and takes every opportunity to do so.  A true champ.

With Laura Smulders being absent at the final stop at Papendal, she has to live with Judy Baauw taking the overall win for 2021. Judy battled it out with Merel Smulders at Papendal both days, going for a photo finish twice. Judy and Merel got one win each which resulted in Judy getting the 2021 overall UEC European Cup title and Merel finishing second in the series, tied in points with big sister Laura. Seems like The Netherlands dominated the Elite Women class this year.

With the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships coming up in Portugal (17 October) and 4 UCI BMX Racing World Cups happening in Sakarya, Turkey spread over two weekends later in October, the season is not over just yet for those who feel like more racing this year. After 18 months of 'not much' happening, it feels good to back at it full throttle.

BdJ

2021 UEC European Cup Overall final standings:

Elite Men:

1 Sylvain ANDRE FRA 10006786142 65 85 55 80 60 43 43 80 511
2 Arthur PILARD FRA 10008797476 28 65 80 55 55 80 60 41 464
3 Eddy CLERTE FRA 10011100117 31 22 28 29 80 57 41 60 348
4 Mathis RAGOT RICHARD FRA 10009904589 18 4 50 50 41 47 13 52 275
5 Simon M. MARQUART WCC 10009179315 55 48 0 0 0 0 80 47 230
6 Cédric BUTTI SUI 10011101026 33 50 0 0 26 47 44 26 226
7 Dylan GOBERT FRA 10025552511 28 34 0 0 50 41 45 27 225
8 Gil BRUNNER SUI 10011204995 20 18 29 45 25 16 17 26 196
9 Mitchel SCHOTMAN NED 10008830115 15 13 43 43 0 0 50 26 190
10 Niek KIMMANN WCC 10008798385 21 60 41 60 0 0 0 0 182
11 Romain CATENACCI FRA 10025871904 12 21 44 6 12 39 24 18 176
12 Martti SCIORTINO ITA 10014979309 18 10 27 35 40 22 12 0 164
13 Yoshitaku NAGASAKO WCC 10007394515 32 33 45 47 0 0 0 0 157
14 Justin KIMMANN NED 10009904993 13 21 17 22 0 0 29 43 145
15 Mattia FURLAN ITA 10007395020 22 23 16 21 16 12 3 10 123
16 Renaud BLANC SUI 10006440881 31 20 0 0 44 21 0 0 116
17 Thibaut STOFFELS BEL 10049028834 3 3 0 0 39 25 25 17 112
18 Dave VAN DER BURG NED 10007924779 0 0 0 0 0 0 55 50 105
19 Giacomo FANTONI ITA 10006277395 46 28 0 0 21 9 0 0 104
20 Ynze OEGEMA NED 10022870560 1 13 23 16 0 0 16 30 99

Elite Women:

1 Judy BAAUW NED 10007839402 45 45 50 36 0 0 64 44 284
2 Merel SMULDERS NED 10009904892 33 37 42 42 0 0 44 62 260
3 Laura SMULDERS NED 10007395222 75 75 38 72 0 0 0 0 260
4 Zoe CLAESSENS WCC 10052931062 50 55 55 38 0 0 0 0 198
5 Axelle ETIENNE FRA 10009900448 55 0 69 55 0 0 0 0 179
6 Nadine AEBERHARD SUI 10051375325 3 42 19 17 28 64 0 0 173
7 Dorte BALLE DEN 10009899337 2 0 0 0 62 32 32 33 161
8 ElišKa BARTUNKOVÁ CZE 10048096422 2 2 9 34 33 23 19 27 149
9 Sae HATAKEYAMA WCC 10011100925 21 21 42 42 0 0 0 0 126
10 Elke VANHOOF BEL 10006191816 0 4 37 21 0 0 32 29 123
11 Bethany SHRIEVER GBR 10011100319 37 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 87
12 Priscilla STEVAUX CARNAVAL BRA 10007475246 0 4 0 0 38 39 0 0 81
13 Rikke BALLE DEN 10050120486 6 3 0 0 17 20 17 13 76
14 Camille MAIRE FRA 10007576488 35 35 0 0 0 0 0 0 70
15 Tessa MARTINEZ FRA 10056678595 0 0 18 47 0 0 0 0 65
16 Charlotte MOROT FRA 10025434895 0 0 19 7 0 0 17 17 60
17 Yaroslava BONDARENKO RUS 10009630969 42 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 58
18 Manon VEENSTRA NED 10010803053 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 28 53
19 Natalia AFREMOVA RUS 10010032511 17 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 50
20 Zoé HAPKA FRA 10056711739 0 0 21 16 0 0 0 0 37

Photos by Bart de Jong / FATBMX