Zoé Claessens ends Laura Smulders' winning run at BMX Racing World Cup in Papendal, Sylvain André takes men's elite race
The European champion from Switzerland puts an end to a five-race win streak for Laura Smulders, while 2018 world champ Sylvain André won the men's race in Papendal, Netherlands.
Cycling BMX Racing
Laura Smulders' five-race winning streak on the BMX Racing World Cup circuit is over.
European champion Zoé Claessens of Switzerland ensured that the Dutch rider would not enjoy a 26th career World Cup race win by pipping Smulders in the women's elite final on Saturday (11 June 2022), while men's elite series leader Sylvain André took his first win of the season.
Claessens held off a late charge from Smulders – that being Smulders' near-signature way of winning races, chasing down the leaders on the final straight – to clinch her inaugural World Cup race win.
Speaking after the race, the Swiss racer said: "I did a really good start on a good track, I'm so happy to win today. I'm so happy, I've dreamed [about this] a lot."
Double Olympic champion Mariana Pajón, who was listed as a starter, was a surprise scratch for unknown reasons.
Meanwhile, Frenchman André claimed his third career World Cup race win – all in Papendal – by triumphing from a final that featured five French riders.
Romain Mahieu started quickly, but was edged wide by André at the first turn. The 2018 world champ held his lead to the line, triumphing from counterpart Jérémy Rencurel and Australia's Izaac Kennedy, who also made up the podium at Round 2 in Glasgow.
"It was a crazy race, everybody was really tired. That came into play," André said afterwards.
"I had to go into Romain into turn one because there was no margin for me. Otherwise I would stay in second forever. It's the final, I had to go if I wanted to win and somehow I stayed out front."
UCI BMX Racing World Cup round 3: Women's elite result
- Zoe Claessens (SUI) 34.737
- Laura Smulders (NED) 34.952
- Felicia Stancil (USA) 35.276
- Lauren Reynolds (AUS) 35.597
- Judy Baauw (NED) 36.323
- Camille Maire (FRA) 36.382
- Merel Smulders (NED) 36.608
- Manon Veenstra (NED) 36.620
UCI BMX Racing World Cup round 3: Men's elite result
- Sylvain Andre (FRA) 34.867
- Jeremy Rencurel (FRA) 35.145
- Izaac Kennedy (AUS) 35.262
- Carlos Alberto Ramirez Yepes (COL) 35.688
- Romain Mayet (FRA) 35.711
- Eddy Clerte (FRA) 36.289
- Romain Mahieu (FRA) DNF
- Kye Whyte (GBR) DNF