USA's Hannah Roberts previews BMX Freestyle at Budapest OQS 2024

BUDAPEST – With 12 places at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at stake, the biggest names in BMX Freestyle Park will be desperate to produce their best performances at the Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) in Budapest, which takes place from 20-23 June.

The event is the second instalment of the two-part OQS, the first part having taken place in Shanghai from 16-19 May.

The course in Budapest could be a factor in how athletes perform as it does not include the box jump that is used at most competitions.

USA's Hannah Roberts said: “It is way different to anything we’ve seen before.

“They took out the box, which is where a lot of good things happen, and they’ve added different spines, hips and transfers. It’s cool, unique, and will give us different kinds of riding.”

Germany’s Kim Muller agreed: “I’m excited to ride but I’ll be nervous. The course is very fun but very different. I do like the jump box. Now we have to do our tricks on the spines.”

Roberts does not know how well she will ride but the five-time women’s world champion has a clear objective.

“I didn’t do as well as I wanted to in China so at this event I want to stick to that top five, that will keep my spot secure," she said. "My teammate Perris (Benegas) has the same thing in mind. I’m really focused.”

Roberts believes the OQS format adds jeopardy to the qualification process.

“It is way different to Tokyo,” she said of the 2020 Olympic Games. “That was about consistency across this season. This makes it more difficult to bounce back from a mistake so it is more stressful. Slight mistakes can ruin your chances. The only focus is making it to Paris.”

China’s women dominated the Shanghai event, with Sun Sibei finishing first ahead of teammates Sun Jiaqi and Deng Yawen.

In the men’s discipline in Shanghai, Anthony Jeanjean of France was first, with Olympic champion Logan Martin of Australia second, and Great Britain's 2023 world champion Kieran Reilly (full name Darren David Kieran Reilly) in third.

Twenty-four freestyle riders (12 men and 12 women) will compete at Paris 2024. The host country gets a quota place while six berths per gender will be decided by the rankings from the OQS events. Scores are added together from the two OQS events to determine rankings.

The riders at the OQS are the first 12 (six per gender) to qualify for Paris 2024. The remaining five qualification places per gender will be based on the results of the 2022 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships and the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, with priority given to the highest-ranked NOCs from a continent with no riders currently qualified.

Any remaining places will be allocated to the highest-ranked NOCs from the same two events, regardless of continent.

OIS nm/xl/lcm/wc/rm