BMX: The UCI BMX World Championships beginning in Medellin, Columbia this week present the final chance for Australia’s elite riders – including superstars Caroline Buchanan and Sam Willoughby - to book a spot on the Australian Team for the Olympic Games in Rio.
Australia’s highest ranked riders – Willoughby, Anthony Dean and Bodi Turner in the men’s draw, and Buchanan and Lauren Reynolds in the women’s event – will lead a group of 14 competitors in the elite events that follow three days of racing for the age groups, ranging from 5 years to Masters, that make up the rank and file of BMX riders around the world.
The first day of action for the elite competitors will be Saturday May 28 with qualifying and then the Super Finals for the time trial. The final day of the five-day meet (Sunday 29/5) will see the elites begin with motos followed by 1/8th finals, quarters, semis and the all important final where the race for the rainbow jersey will be on in earnest.
Buchanan, who enters the event ranked number one in the world after a stellar start to 2016, said being ranked so well was a bonus but her focus was on error free racing.
“It's a great place to be in coming into worlds #1 ranked I have been in this position before coming into world championships,” Buchanan said.
“For me the most important focus is executing and fine tuning mistakes I have made at previous world championships.
“The rider with the least amounts of mistakes will win. We are all fast and a handful of men and women are all in contention on any day to win these major UCI level events.”
Buchanan said she would treat the event like any other world championships, despite it being an Olympic year. The 25-year-old sees the chance to win in Medellin as just another step along the way to achieving her dream of gold in Rio.
“This world championships will be the same as any other and every race for me these past four years have been stepping stones and opportunities to grow, learn, challenge and step up,” she said.
Willoughby enters the world championships having won the world title in 2012 and 2014, those results complimenting the silver medal he won at the 2012 London Olympic Games. He is currently ranked fourth in the world.
Whilst Willoughby, Dean, Turner, Buchanan and Reynolds now have the inside running for Olympic selection following performances over the last 12 months, a host of BMX Australia Development Academy riders will also be on show.
In the elite women’s event, Development Academy team members Kirsten Dellar and Melinda McLeod, along with Rachel Jones, will join reigning national series and national championships winner Leanna Curtis.
The elite men’s contingent includes Josh Callan, Corey Frieswyk, Matt Juster, Tristyn Kronk and Kai Sakakibara from the Development Academy.
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