COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A packed lineup of riders will be representing Team USA this week at the second round of the UCI BMX Freestyle Park and Flatland World Cup circuit in Montpellier, France. From May 9-13, 10 U.S. riders, including reigning World Champion Hannah Roberts (Buchanan, Mich.), will compete on the banks of the River Lez in one of the biggest events of the year.
“It’s great to be in Montpellier, France, this week at FISE’s flagship event to compete in the World Cup,” said Jamie Staff, USA Cycling’s Performance Director, BMX & Sprint Track. “The U.S. is the highest-ranked nation in both the men’s and women’s events due to the depth of talent. It’s definitely an exciting time for USA Cycling and the USA BMX freestyle community.”
The World Cup in Montpellier is part of the FISE World Series, an international, multidisciplinary action sports festival. This year’s UCI World Cup schedule features five stops leading up to the UCI BMX Freestyle World Championships this November in Chengdu, China.
Roberts, winner of the inaugural UCI BMX Freestyle world title last year, started her 2018 season where she left off, claiming gold in the first World Cup of the season in Hiroshima, Japan, in April. She returns to compete in her second World Cup this week alongside Cory Coffey (Ojai, Calif.), Hiroshima World Cup silver medalist Angie Marino (Phoenix), and Nina Buitrago (Austin, Texas).
In the men’s events, Colton Walker (Minneapolis), who last year took home bronze at the World Championships and won an X Games gold medal, will challenge for a podium spot in Montpellier. He will be joined by four riders currently among the top 10 in the UCI standings – fourth-ranked Jeremy Malott (Lake Havasu City, Ariz.); Nick Bruce (Youngstown, Ohio), currently fifth; Justin Dowell (Virginia Beach, Va.), ranked seventh and winner of Best Trick at the Hiroshima World Cup; and eighth-ranked Pat Casey (Yorba Linda, Calif.). Daniel Sandoval (Mira Loma, Calif.), who finished the 2017 World Cup season fifth overall, also joins Team USA for his first World Cup of the year.
“Excitement is building among the freestyle community as we get closer to the start of qualifying period for Olympic points which starts in November 2018,” Staff said. “Getting to know all the riders and watching them compete has my cogs turning as to how we can support these amazing athletes and get them ready for the Olympics in just two years.”
BMX Freestyle Park will make its Olympic debut at the 2020 Games in Tokyo. The event will also be on the 2018 Youth Olympic Games program this summer in Buenos Aires.
Follow @USACycling across all channels for the latest on Team USA. Follow @UCI_BMX_FS and @fiseworld on Twitter for results and updates throughout the BMX freestyle season.
Team USA roster for the second round of the UCI BMX Freestyle Park and Flatland World Cup in Montpellier (France) from May 9-13:
Nina Buitrago (Austin, Texas)
Cory Coffey (Ojai, Calif.)
Angie Marino (Phoenix)
Hannah Roberts (Buchanan, Mich.)
Nick Bruce (Youngstown, Ohio)
Pat Casey (Yorba Linda, Calif.)
Justin Dowell (Virginia Beach, Va.)
Jeremy Malott (Lake Havasu City, Ariz.)
Daniel Sandoval (Mira Loma, Calif.)
Colton Walker (Minneapolis)
