BMX Freestyle World Cup (Park) Montpellier 2024: Anthony Jeanjean and Laury Perez complete French double
French riders Anthony Jeanjean and Laury Perez warmed up for next week's Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) with BMX Freestyle World Cup victories on home soil in Montpellier on Saturday (11 May).
Jeanjean delivered a masterful one-minute opening run filled with tricks including a double backflip and double tailwhip for a winning score of 92.50 points at the Festival International des Sports Extrêmes (FISE).
Australian Brandon Loupos dropped in as the podium favourite after winning the semi-final with a score of 89.37 with Jeanjean a point adrift.
But the day belonged to local favourite Jeanjean who got into the sport as a 10-year-old in Montpellier. Backed by an exuberant crowd, he was the first man to top 90 points and threw down the challenge to Loupos who was next to go.
Loupos turned in a valiant effort, posting a 91.32, with Britain's Olympic bronze medallist Declan Brooks (89.87) in third after the first run.
None of the leaders managed to improve their scores on the second run with Jeanjean scoring his second win of the season after his triumph in Enoshima.
Laury Perez provides more French flair
In the women’s competition, Perez produced two 90-plus scores as she completed a French double.
The European bronze medallist was fourth in qualifying, but posted the only 90-plus performance on run one - a 91.62 - to lead Great Britain’s Sasha Pardoe with top qualifier Miharo Ozawo crashing.
Perez improved to a superb 94.00 on her second run with Pardoe scoring 90.12. On the last run of the competition, 14-year-old Japanese rider Miharo posted 93.00 to take second place.
Tokyo 2020 Olympian Oike Minato was fourth with 83.82 having crashed on her first run.
Next up for the riders is the first of two Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) events, taking place in Shanghai, People's Republic of China from 16-19 May.
The BMX Freestyle Park World Cup series also draws to a close in Shanghai on 17-18 October.
BMX Freestyle World Cup (Park) Montpellier, 11 May 2024, men’s final results:
- Anthony Jeanjean (FRA) 92.50
- Brandon Loupos (AUS) 91.32
- Declan Brooks (GBR) 89.87
- Reef Way (GBR) 87.50
- Bryce Tryon (USA) 85.87
- Jose Cedano (CHI) 83.25
- Zoltan Ujvary (HUN) 81.67
- Samual Grace (AUS) 80.62
- Ashley Finlay (GBR) 77.62
- Ozawa Kaede (JPN) 75.75
- Mizogaki Joji (JPN) 74.25
- Shaun Gornall (GBR) 69.00
BMX Freestyle World Cup (Park) Montpellier, 11 May 2024, women’s final results:
- Laury Perez (FRA) 94.00
- Miharu Ozawa (JPN) 93.00
- Sasha Pardoe (GBR) 90.12
- Okie Minato (JPN) 83.82
- Sugio Sakura (JPN) 83.00
- Indy Krämer (NED) 78.75
- Oh Sinai (KOR) 76.75
- Valeriia Liubimova (FRA) 67.50
- Maëlys Turini (FRA) 64.75
- Naito Nene (JPN) 64.00
- Mylee Toohey (AUS) 62.50
- Cory Coffey (USA) 56.87