Australian riders delivered a unique ‘clean sweep’, winning all four categories of the 2024 UCI BMX Racing World Cup, with strong performances throughout the six-round campaign, that culminated in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. Here’s how the victorious Australians reacted as they digested their achievements after the final two rounds in Tulsa…
Saya Sakakibara: “It doesn’t get any better than this!”
The amazing Saya retained her Women Elite title in style with back-to-back wins in Tulsa increasing her already unassailable lead.
SS: “It doesn’t get any better than this! I’m really driven by coming into the weekend and aiming to just put down my best performance and race like I know that I can. This week, with all the mental challenges, I’m so happy that I was able to do that, and the win is just the bonus.
“It’s so crazy, really crazy. It just goes to show that everything I’m doing back at home is really working. I’m really rehearsing my mental process for each race weekend. Each experience like this is evidence that I can look back upon when the pressure situations come at the UCI Worlds and the Olympics later this year.”
Izaac Kennedy: “It’s a pretty unreal feeling and I’m ready to keep going”
Izaac’s Men Elite campaign went down to the wire: he moved into the top spot in the UCI World Cup Ranking in the 6th and final round.
IK: “Yeah, it’s a pretty sweet feeling coming back from obviously a really rough year last year with an injury, and it’s been a really good start to the season.
“And to be UCI World Cup Champion… that’s probably pressure like I’ve never felt before. I knew I had a shot. I just locked in, tried to focus on my process and I got out really good on that lap. I couldn’t quite get across but I just tried to chase Niek (Kimmann, NED, winner of rounds 5 and 6) down. I couldn’t get him but I came around the turn and the team had ‘thumbs up’ so I thought I’d got it!
“But to be Elite Men UCI World Cup Champion, it’s a pretty unreal feeling and I’m ready to keep going this year!”
Teya Rufus: “It’s so incredible”
Teya won four rounds of the Women Under 23 UCI BMX Racing World Cup but it was still drama to the very end.
TR: “Yeah honestly It’s really quite crazy!
“I came into the UCI World Cup season, I didn’t expect anything, I didn’t expect to win at all. I just wanted to go out and see what I could do. So to come away with four wins and even ending like this (crashing in Round 6 final along with overall contender Isabell May) it’s still on a pretty high note.
“Going into this race I wasn’t feeling the best so just to know where I’m at with the top girls in the world, it’s so incredible.”
Oliver Moran: “I got the job done and I’m happy!”
Oliver has been consistent throughout the campaign but still had to pull out the performance in the last Men Under 23 round.
OM: “I had a pretty rough day yesterday, and crashed in the first moto, and wasn’t really able to race. And I woke up this morning and my body was moving, so I thought I’d give it a crack and kind of had no expectations, I thought I’d ride and have fun, so to come out with a good result I’m pretty happy!
“I came around the second turn and I knew the boys behind me had good track space so I tried to cover my line and be smooth and consistent, and just get to the finish line without crashing where I came undone yesterday.
“So I got the job done and I’m happy!
“I finished racing yesterday and I saw the results and I still had the lead – just – so it was down to whoever finished in front of each other out of me and Bennett (Greenough, NZL, round 2 winner).
“It’s been a tough couple of weeks and it’s been on my mind, trying to get focus on the race so to have everything sorted and just get it done is kinda refreshing.
“We’ve got two weeks til the UCI Worlds now, so back into it and that’ll be another race, so exciting!”
The UCI BMX Racing World Championships will take place in Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA, 12-18 May.