BMX: Olympic silver medallist Sam Willoughby and world number two Caroline Buchanan will spearhead the Australian team in the third round of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup series in Angelholm, Sweden this weekend.
No less than 17 Australian riders will be in action, ready to once again take it to the best riders in the world in what will be the first international hit out since the UCI BMX World Championships in Belgium last month.
It will be the first time Sweden has hosted a world cup round, and although not as technical as other tracks on the world cup circuit, it features large open turns that will produce plenty of speed and favour riders who can crank up the horsepower.
The elite men’s field will once again be a who’s who of world BMX, as Willoughby attempts to claim his first world cup win of the season from the likes of reigning world champion Niek Kimman and two-time Olympic gold medallist Maris Strombergs.
Willoughby, who is the current series leader, will take to the start ramp this weekend well prepared and carrying extra motivation after the South Australian was controversially forced off the track in horrendous conditions during his world championships defence last month.
“My preparation has been really good, I feel I’m still in great form courtesy of all the work I did pre world championships, as well as having some time on the Sweden track last week,” Willoughby said.
“I’m extremely motivated to make amends for that crazy day in Belgium.
“I’m not phased by being series leader, that’s the position I aim to be in, so for me there is no extra pressure.”
Other Aussies in action in the elite men will be Anthony Dean, Bodi Turner, Bradley Game, Lachlan Harvey and Frank Penrose. As well as BMX Australia Development Academy riders Corey Frieswyk, Kai Sakakibara, Josh Callan and Matthew Juster.
In the elite women, defending World Cup series champion Caroline Buchanan will enter the event fresh and focused. Currently tied for first place with Olympic champion and great rival Mariana Pajon, Buchanan is well and truly in the hunt for the year-end title.
“It’s been great having the whole High Performance Unit staying in Europe since the world championships and being able to practice on the Sweden track a week early, I’m feeling fresh coming into this world cup,” Buchanan said.
“I am on equal season points with Mariana Pajon, which is solid place to be half way through the season.
“The track here in Sweden is smaller than most world cups we have raced this year but it definitely doesn’t lack any speed, there will be plenty of action packed racing and solid battles all day.”
Joining Buchanan in the elite women will be Lauren Reynolds, Melinda McLeod, Rachel Jones, Leanna Curtis and BMX Australia Development Academy riders Kirsten Dellar and Rachelle Smith.
You can follow the fortunes of our Australian riders across the weekend via updates on our website and social pages, and can live stream the action via our website.
Schedule
Qualification & Time Trial – Saturday, August 15 from 10pm EST
Main Event – Monday, August 17 from 12.30am EST
BMX AUSTRALIA
