Saturday 1 October 2022. Round 7.
We'll give you a list of riders who did not make the cut to the 1/4 finals on Saturday. These athletes could make for a great race at any time but did not make it out of their 1/8th final hoping for a better day on Sunday: Renaud Blanc (SUI), James Palmer (CAN), Arthur Pilard (FRA), Justin Kimmann (NED), Stefan Heil (GER), Ross Cullen (GBR), Bodi Turner (AUS), Miguel Calixto (COL), Giacomo Fantoni (ITA), Quillan Isidore (GBR), Brunner, Darnand, Krigers, Schotman, Larsen, Smith, Milano, and Moore are some who did not make it either. That's a packed group of great riders out of competition before the live program starts. Although the list isn't as long, not making it through in the Elite Women class are Lauren Reynolds (AUS), Mathilde Doudoux (FRA), Rikke Balle (DEN) and Andrea Escobar (COL).
At this point in time Joris Daudet (FRA/EM) and Leo Garoyan (FRA/U23) had set the fastest track times with a 32.265s and 33.404s respectively showing they were ready to take on anyone on the Pista BMX Carlos Ramirez. Going into the quarter finals Mariano Pajon (COL) and Veronika Sturiska (LAT) were leading the fastest track time charts with a 35.740s for Mariana and a 36.666s for Veronika in the U23 class. It is well possible that these track times will be broken later on but it also is an indication these riders mean business on Saturday.
For now, watch the live feed on FATBMX to see the rest of the day develop.
BdJ
It feels good to have some time in a foreign country to explore, meet new people and see new things. After a few days "off" it was time to head back to the Pista BMX Carlos Ramirez for Friday's practice and Saturday's Round 7 of the UCI BMX Racing World Cup. Most of the athletes had come over to Colombia a week prior to get used to the 2500m altitude. For them it's the third weekend in Bogota and the goal was to score some good points now that Olympic qualifying has started for BMX racing since last weekend. Watching high level BMX racing you can only have respect for the athletes. That first lip of the 10m gap looks good for a dirt jump competition, but takes a different approach when hit at 60 kmh. It becomes a bit of a curb that you have to suck up to stay low. Any freestyle rider would use the transition to send it high, but that's not the goal for BMX Racing. The speed generated is so high and the racing is so close that a little elbow bump can result in being out of competition.
The support for the riders is there. With team tents, rollers, food, drinks, physios, doctors, trainers, and mental coaches at hand, the pressure gets even higher when expectations are high and points are expected. Racing down that 8 meter hill with 7 others next to you becomes a battle. With fairly packed granstands on the first straight full of loud fans, VIP's, media and coaches, making it out front is what everyone is shooting for.
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.