Cycling BMX RacingWhat is BMX racing?
BMX racing involves up to eight BMX cyclists competing on a single-lap track with straights, jumps and turns. The first across the finish line wins the race.
By whom, where and when was BMX Racing invented?
Bicycle motocross (BMX) started in the late 1960s in California, around the time that motocross became a popular sport in the USA. The motorised version of the sport was the inspiration for the human-powered competition.
BMX racing offered exciting action at a low cost, and the infant sport became an instant hit, especially in California. This led to the foundation of a sanctioning body for BMX in the USA in the early 1970s. Over the following decade, the sport gradually gained in international popularity.
In April 1981, the International BMX Federation was founded. BMX rapidly developed a unique sporting identity and it became evident that the sport had more in common with cycling than motorcycling. This was officially recognised in 1993, when BMX was fully integrated into the International Cycling Union (UCI).
What are the rules of BMX Racing?
The main rules related to the sport are related to safety equipment, bike sizes, age group limits, and how racers advance through events. Competitions are usually held in 'motos', or heats, of up to 8 racers at a time. Heats may be single-elimination, with the top few finishers moving on, or a series of races with points awarded according to finishing position.
BMX Racing and the Olympics
It was in 2008 in Beijing that BMX racing made its debut on the Olympic programme. The men’s event was won by Latvia’s Maris Strombergs. In the women’s event, it was France’s Anne-Caroline Chausson who took the first Olympic title in this discipline.
BMX racing is one of the fastest and youngest cycling disciplines. Its principle is simple: eight riders compete on a track filled with jumps, tight bends and obstacles. It has been on the Olympic programme ever since its debut.
Best BMX Racing riders to watch
BMX racing has traditionally been dominated by European and U.S. racers, although Colombian riders have also made a name for themselves at the very highest level of the sport, with names such as three-time Olympic medallist and two-time champion Mariana Pajón. Niek Kimmann (Netherlands), Sylvain André (France), Bethany Shriever (Great Britain), and Laura Smulders (Netherlands are some of the other big names.