BMX: Olympic hopeful Anthony Dean produced a brilliant performance to grab second in the fourth round of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in Santiago Del Estero.
The riders turned it on in front of a raucous South American crowd, which only helped to enhance the drama and spectacle on a day of absorbing racing in what is the only World Cup event held in the southern hemisphere.
In the elite men, Dean, who finished runner up in the season standings last year grabbed his first podium of the year behind Great Britain’s Liam Phillips, who secured his third win of an increasingly dominant season.
Dean produced a competitive all important start in the final, but Phillips was better, and from there the race was all but won and done, Dean unable to rein him in. Although excited to be back on a World Cup podium, the South Australian said that it won’t change his mindset to much moving forward.
“It felt great to show up today and get back up onto the podium,” Dean said.
“My confidence hasn’t changed all year, I have been on many podiums in the USA all year which aren’t easy to achieve.
“So I have always known what I am capable of, I know where I am so one result here won’t change my mindset much.”
The result see’s Dean move to sixth on the season standings on 450 points, behind absent compatriot Sam Willoughby who slips to fourth on 475 points, while Phillips extended his overall lead to a total of 730 points.
In the elite women, defending season champion Caroline Buchanan lead the way for Australia, finishing fourth in the final behind run away winner Mariana Pajon of Colombia, who was truly dominant across the weekend. Fellow Aussie Lauren Reynolds also lined up in the final, however a poor start cost her, eventually finishing in eighth.
In the season standings, Buchanan sits in fourth on 625 points, Reynolds is fifth on 520 points, while Pajon (740 points) steals the lead at the expense of America’s Alise Post.
Also in action this morning in the elite men was Bodi Tuner, who unfortunately fell one position short of advancing to the semi-finals finishing 17th overall, while Matthew Juster also fell just short finishing in 20th. Corey Frieswyk (33rd), Tristyn Kronk (35th), Joshua Callan (37th) and Tom Siinma (57th) also flew the flag for Australia. In the elite women, Melinda McLeod finished in 29th overall after failing to progress from the moto stage.
Attention now turns to the fifth and final event of the Supercross season at Rock Hill, USA which will be held from September 25 to 26.
BMX AUSTRALIA
