The 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Cup reached its finale at the start of November with Rounds 9 and 10 in Sarasota, Florida (USA). Four titles were decided with Jaymio Brink (NED) taking the Men Elite crown, Laura Smulders (NED) the Women Elite, Clément Rocherieux (FRA) the Men Under 23 and Freia Challis (GBR) the Women Under 23.They talk about their season, the reasons for their success and hopes for the future.
Jaymio Brink: having fun and getting results
You’ve had an incredible 2026 season. What’s been your biggest challenge and your personal highlight
Jaymio Brink (JB): To keep having fun; I try and enjoy every race. As for my personal highlight, it must be winning the Sarrians UCI World Cup in Round 1 – my first UCI World Cup victory.
What does a typical training week look like?
JB: It depends on the time of year. In the winter, I’ll do more gym sessions than in the summer. I’ll train every day apart from Sundays and sometimes double training days. Usually, I’ll train in the morning or the afternoon, so I can spend the rest of the day recovering. I love training. It never feels like work.
Where are you based?
JB: I live in Arnhem, which is close to Papendal where I train a lot. It’s also around 30 minutes to Tiel, where there are a lot of BMX Racing tracks.
Away from BMX Racing, what does life look like?
JB: I love riding motorcycles. This summer I obtained a licence, so now I own a Harley Davidson. My friends and Dad also ride, so I’m always out with them. Also, I’ve started a company selling Pokémon cards. I like collecting them, too. And I love spending time with my dogs, my family and my girlfriend. Just chilling.
What’s been the highlight of your career?
JB: Competing at the Paris 2024 Olympics. When someone doesn’t know BMX Racing very well, if I say I’m an Olympian they think I must be a good athlete! Results wise the UCI World Cup win is also unforgettable.
Who’s been the biggest influence on your career?
JB: My Dad. He’s my coach, best friend and inspiration. He’s the reason why I’m at this level and why I’m the man I am today.
Who do you look up to in BMX Racing and why?
JB: Sam Willoughby because his riding style was really cool, and I loved his emotion and domination on the track. [Sam won the UCI BMX Racing World Championships three times before a training accident ended his racing career.]
Is competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics the ultimate goal?
JB: Of course. To achieve that, I’ll take things step by step, day by day, and look to deliver as many good results as I can. But ultimately the main goal is to have fun and don’t think about it too much.
Laura Smulders: living the “crazy cool” life
The Netherlands’ Laura Smulders enjoyed a stellar season. This year the 32-year-old recorded her 31st UCI BMX Racing World Cup victory en route to the overall title, as she held off Great Britain’s Bethany Shriever at the season conclusion in Sarasota, USA. Incredibly, this was the sixth time the Dutch rider had won the UCI World Cup.
“What a season, what a battle till the end with Bethany Shriever,” Smulders wrote on Instagram after her victory. “This year has been amazing. What an awesome sport I’m in, what a crazy cool life we live.”
And a successful one. The Dutch rider, born in Nijmegen in 1993, won Olympic bronze at London 2012 and has competed at four Games in all, finishing fourth at Paris 2024. She became Elite UCI World Champion in 2018 and has collected multiple World Championship and European Championship medals.
It’s a far cry from Horssen in the Netherlands, where she grew up alongside her younger sister, Merel, who’s also an Elite BMX Racing rider. Similar to Jaymio, their father, Frank, played a significant role in their sporting careers, managing their team for many years. And like her contemporaries, she recognises that her best performances come when she’s happy and enjoying life rather than becoming completely consumed by sporting pressure.
Clément Rocherieux: successful move from Junior to Under 23
French rider Clément Rocherieux enjoyed a breakthrough 2026, winning the Under 23 UCI BMX Racing World Cup overall title with a round to spare. His season included third at the opening round in France and a strong Chinese double: second on both days at Chongli, Zhangjiakou, missing victory by just 0.001 seconds on the Sunday.
Rocherieux’s success builds on an impressive Junior career. He was 2024 European Junior silver medallist, then won the 2025 French Junior title and took silver at the 2025 UCI BMX Racing World Championships in the same category. He’s always been committed to his sport, choosing to leave his family at 14 to pursue his BMX Racing ambitions. After studying economics and management, Rocherieux decided to change direction and train as a bicycle mechanic.
But when it comes to BMX Racing, the 19-year-old is on a mission. Watch this space…
Freia Challis: chasing that winning feeling
You’ve had an incredible 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Cup season, winning seven rounds of the 10, and the overall Under 23 title. Did you expect to be so successful?
Freia Challis (FC): I came into this season looking to grow as an athlete on and off the bike. I ride best when I’m enjoying myself and having fun, so the results this season were just a bonus onto the experiences and people I’ve met.
Of course, it didn’t all go to plan. I crashed in Round 3 and had to sit out Round 4, plus it was gutting to miss UCI BMX Racing World Championships due to injury. But that only made me stronger.
On paper, it looks like you’ve effortlessly made the transition into the Under 23 category. Is that true?
FC: Nothing is easy in BMX Racing. It’s unpredictable and physically demanding; I’ve learnt I need to believe in myself more and back myself in decisions. I saw a different side to myself this year and learnt a lot from the older riders around me.
What does a typical training week look like?
FC: It consists of gym, track, sprints and recovery sessions. These vary depending on the time of season and goals at that period. They’re balanced to ensure I’m not overtraining. From a very young age I’ve been eager to train. I realised quickly that this can burn you out and rest is as important.
Where are you based?
FC: I’m currently at my parental home in Essex, but I’m in the middle of making the move to Manchester to become a full-time athlete on the British Cycling programme. Growing up I trained and raced for Braintree Bullets, the same club as Beth Shriever [four-time UCI World Champion and 2020 Olympic Champion].
How did you get into BMX?
FC: Because of my older brother – I was the annoying little sister who just wanted to do whatever her brother was doing. I’ve been at the Bullets from four years old until now. From competing at my first UCI World Championships at age seven, I’ve had a desire to make it to the top of the sport. I’ve always dreamed of wearing that Olympic gold medal.
What else do you enjoy doing?
FC: Away from BMX Racing I’m just a normal girl. Love getting my nails and lashes done; spending time with my family, friends and boyfriend; and I love a good coffee.
What’s been the highlight of your career so far?
FC: It has to be becoming the Under 23 UCI BMX Racing World Cup winner. To take seven wins and the overall title is more than I could have imagined.
Who has been the biggest influence on your development?
FC: It has to be the people around me – coaches, family and friends – plus my desire to better myself and prove that I can do it. I’m competitive. Not only do I train and ride because I love it but also because I love winning. That feeling never grows old. I chase that winning feeling.
Are you aiming for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?
FC: That’s always been the dream. Just being in the Olympic cycle now and collecting points for the country is crazy. The goal is to be there competing and ready to race. I’ve just got to keep ticking over, putting the work in and enjoying it because that’s when I ride and perform to my best.