Only one day remains before the BMX European Championships that will be raced in Valmiera (Latvia) from 12 to 14 July.
Over the three days of racing in the modern facilities of the largest city in the Vidzeme region, titles in the Elite and Junior Men’s and Women’s categories will be awarded as well as the European Challenge with a new test event in the Team Time-Trial. 1044 riders from 26 countries will compete in these events,
In terms of participation, some of the world’s best specialists will take part in this event starting with the first three in the 2018 Elite European Championships in Glasgow (Great Britain), the Brits Kyle Evans and Kye White and the Frenchman Sylvain André, current world champion. Niek Kimmann (Netherlands), leader of the UCI Ranking is also another to watch out for, as well as the former world champion Joris Daudet (France). High hopes also for his young fellow compatriot Leo Garoyan in the most important category after winning the world and European title last year in the Junior category.
The multiple champion Laura Smulders (Netherlands) will be the rider to beat in the Women’s category. In addition to the current European champion, the 2018 silver and bronze medallists, Simone Christensen (Denmark) and Yaroslava Bondarenko (Russia), without forgetting Judy Baauw and Merel Smulders (Netherlands) and Natalia Afremova (Russia).
In the Junior events, the current European champion and world champion, Indy Scheepers (Netherlands) and leaders of the UCI Ranking in the respective categories: the Swiss Zoe Claessens and Bart van Bemmelen (Netherlands).
Rocco Cattaneo, President of the Union Européenne de Cyclisme: «After 2018 with the Junior and Challenge raced in Sarrians (France) and the Elite races in Glasgow, the BMX European Championships will once again be held in one city only, Valmiera, which has an important tradition associated with this movement and produced the first BMX Olympic champion, Maris Stombergs, who won the gold medal in Beijing 2008, followed by London 2012.
We have always believed in BMX, a young and vibrant discipline, a perfect combination of the spirit of modern cycling and its tradition. The success of the BMX European Cup in terms of participation and media coverage proves that BMX still has a great deal of potential and plenty of scope for further growth.
This is why we are continuing to invest in projects and activities targeted at the further development of this discipline in Europe, also thanks to the contract with Eurovision to broadcast the Elite Championships and to the live streaming on our platforms of all BMX European Cup events, Junior Championships and the Valmiera Challenge.
We are certain that the great organisational capabilities of the Latvian Cycling Federation with its President, Igo Japins, whom I would like to thank, as well as the City of Valmiera and its Mayor, Janis Baiks, will make these Championships an unforgettable and unique event».
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