Uci bmx world cup papendal 2023

The 2023 UCI BMX World Cup made its high-adrenaline stop at Papendal, Netherlands, delivering two days of electric racing, fierce competition, and emotional victories.

Over the weekend of June 24–25, the world’s top BMX riders took to the iconic Olympic track for Rounds 3 and 4 of the series. The stakes were high, with riders chasing not just podium finishes, but valuable points toward qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Day 1 (Round 3) Highlights

France came out swinging with Romain Mahieu clinching gold in the Elite Men’s category, followed closely by Arthur Pilard and Colombia’s Diego Arboleda. In the women’s race, Australian star Saya Sakakibara powered through to take the win, beating Dutch favorites Laura and Merel Smulders on their home turf.

In the U23 categories, Rico Bearman (New Zealand) secured a dramatic photo-finish win, while Veronika Sturiska (Latvia) took her first win of the season in the U23 Women’s division.

Day 2 (Round 4) Results:

French dominance continued as Joris Daudet won the Elite Men’s race, with teammate Sylvain André close behind. In Elite Women, Bethany Shriever of Great Britain bounced back with a strong victory, as Sakakibara returned to the podium in second place.

Bearman and Sturiska both doubled down on their form, sweeping their categories with back-to-back wins across the weekend.

Weekend vibes

The Papendal track challenged riders both technically and mentally. Sakakibara revealed the emotional toll behind the scenes, saying she had broken down in tears before her win. Meanwhile, the scorching summer heat on Sunday added another layer of intensity, testing the athletes’ focus and endurance.

Papendal proved once again why it’s one of the most iconic stops on the World Cup calendar. From photo finishes to comeback stories, this round had it all — setting the tone for what’s shaping up to be an unforgettable BMX season.