The reason for me being in Bogotá is the UCI BMX Racing World Cup. Working with the media has been something I've done for many years now at these races and it's great to get on the road a couple of times a year to see the best BMX racing in real life. The work isn't too complicated but on arrival on Friday the media centre did not exist, we had no wifi, tables, chairs or anything that normally makes up the media centre at these events. The media tent was used for the medical centre or team Colombia who had priority over media on Friday. Come Saturday all was good and work could be done by local (Colombian) media as well as the international press that made it to the first Olympic Qualifier weekend for BMX Racing.
What makes races in Colombia so special is the crowd. Anything is better with an enthusiastic crowd in the grandstands. It was clear that Mariana Pajon and Carlos Ramirez are the national BMX heroes but after doing several BMX clinics in Colombia Niek Kimmann has his fair share of fans as well. Unfortunately for the fans Carlos Ramirez had two bad racing days with crashes. The good thing is that two more UCI World Cup rounds will be held on the same track that has his name on it. 1-2 October it's redemption time for Carlos so everyone watch out. Niek Kimmann added some fans after winning on Saturday. Sunday didn't go as well. Mariana was consistent but missed out on a podium this weekend.
Elite results UCI BMX SX World Cup Round 8, Sakarya, Turkey
Elite Men:
1 Simon M. MARQUART SUI 150
2 Diego Alejandro ARBOLEDA OSPINA COL 130
3 Joris DAUDET FRA 115
4 Cédric BUTTI SUI 100
5 Vincent PELLUARD COL 90
6 Eddy CLERTE FRA 80
7 Arthur PILARD FRA 75
8 Renaud BLANC SUI 70
9 Mateo CARMONA GARCIA COL 65
10 Mathis RAGOT RICHARD FRA 65
11 Dylan GOBERT FRA 60
12 Hugo MARSZALEK FRA 60
13 Romain MAHIEU FRA 55
14 Magnus DYHRE DEN 55
Results UCI BMX SX World Cup Round 7. Sakarya, Turkey.
Under 23 Women:
1. Jui YABUTA JPN
2. Vineta PETERSONE LAT
3. Lea BRINDJONC FRA
4. Domenica Gissell MORA CORDERO ECU
5. Aiko GOMMERS BEL
6. Kanami TANNO JPN
Final results UCI BMX SX World Cup Round 5, Sakarya, Turkey.
Elite Women
1. STANCIL Felicia USA 37.656
2. BARTUNKOVA Eliska CZE 38.445
3. SIMPSON Molly CAN 38.710
4. SMULDERS Laura NED TEAM TVE SPORT 38.741
5. STEVAUX CARNAVAL Priscilla BRA 39.241
We're out here in Turkey, a new stop on the UCI BMX SX World Cup circuit. It's always nice to go to new places but it also brings new challenges. New track, new hotel, new people, translation issues, drinking issues, stray dogs and cats, mobile camper toilets, the list is long and the adventure is on.
Four UCI BMX World Cup rounds are on the program for the next two weekends. Rounds 5&6 now, Rounds 7&8 next weekend (30/31 October) and the title chase is wide open. Basically half of the season will be taken care of in 10 days so if you are in shape now and can put it together, chances are you're up there at the end of the road.
The leader plates are in the hands of Arthur Pilard (Elite Men), Mariana Pajon (Elite Women), Asuma Nakai (U23 Men) and also Thalya Burford (U23 Women) so they carry the best papers at the moment but things can change quickly.
For those not wanting to miss anything, we've got the live feed on FATBMX.com so tune in and follow the racing. We'll keep you posted on ourd FATBMX social media channels and here also on the website as you're used from us. It's BMX after all.
BdJ
UCI BMX SX World Cup Rankings after 4 rounds:
Elite Men
1 PILARD Arthur FRANCE 335
2 MAHIEU Romain FRANCE 310
3 DAUDET Joris FRANCE 300
4 RAMIREZ YEPES Carlos Alberto COLOMBIA 300
5 MARQUART Simon M. SWITZERLAND 280
6 BUTTI Cédric SWITZERLAND 275
7 GAROYAN Leo FRANCE 245
8 RACINE Romain FRANCE 240
9 GRAF David SWITZERLAND 240
10 FANTONI Giacomo ITALY 225
11 PELLUARD Vincent COLOMBIA 212
12 RAGOT RICHARD Mathis FRANCE 195
13 ARBOLEDA OSPINA Diego Alejandro COLOMBIA 190
14 GOBERT Dylan FRANCE 180
15 DE SOUZA FILHO Anderson Ezequiel BRAZIL 175
16 KIMMANN Niek NETHERLANDS 175
Elite Results UCI BMX SX World Cup Round 4, Bogotá, Colombia. Sunday 30 May 2021.
Elite Men:
1 DAUDET Joris FRA
2 RAMIREZ YEPES Carlos Alberto COL
3 PILARD Arthur FRA
4 KENNEDY Izaac AUS
5 BUTTI Cédric SUI
6 RAGOT RICHARD Mathis FRA
7 FANTONI Giacomo ITA
8 MAHIEU Romain FRA
9 KLESHCHENKO Evgeny RUS
10 ARBOLEDA OSPINA Diego Alejandro COL
11 GAROYAN Leo FRA
12 CATENACCI Romain FRA
13 PELLUARD Vincent COL
14 KATYSHEV Aleksandr RUS
15 CARMONA GARCIA Mateo COL
16 DE SOUZA FILHO Anderson Ezequiel BRA
Elite Results UCI BMX SX World Cup Round 3, Bogotá, Colombia
Elite Men:
1 DAUDET Joris
2 BUTTI Cedric
3 BABRIS Helvijs
4 MAHIEU Romain
5 PELLUARD Vincent
6 FANTONI Giacomo
7 RAMIREZ YEPES Carlos Alberto
8 KRIGERS Kristens
Elite Women:
1 PAJON Mariana
2 BOLLE CARRILLO Gabriela
3 AFREMOVA Natalia
4 MAIRE Camille 5 2.673 10.052 20.892 31.130 38.330 -
5 RIDENOUR Payton
6 VAUGHN Daleny
After doing a BMX 'zine for ten years (1987 - 1996) FATBMX made it on the internet. The year was 1998. Here to stay.