As the year draws to a close, we ask some members of the UCI Athletes’ Commission to look back over the last 12 months. Today American BMX Freestyle Park specialist Ryan Nyquist summarises 2017 from his point of view: the highs, the lows and the memorable moments.
Personal sporting highlight
For me it was being a part of our first ever UCI World Championships for BMX Freestyle Park. It truly opened my eyes to not only the potential our sport has to take everything to the next level, but that our sport is ready and willing to rise to the occasion. It was a very exciting event!
Disappointment / bad moment
Getting 40th at the UCI World Championships. Two slip-ups and I knew I was a goner. Oh well. 365 days of training till next year. Hahaha!
Biggest surprise
Being chosen to hold a seat on the BMX Freestyle Commission was a big surprise, and a great honour. I’m very excited to help guide BMX Freestyle through this new territory for us.
Anecdote
We had a bit of a “war of the rooms” going on in Chengdu, China this year with some of the women riders. They would put statues and other objects in front of our hotel room door, essentially blocking us from entering. The last night in town, they accidentally left their hotel room door open, so I put all the furniture on their beds, stuck stickers all over their stuff, used all of their bags to block the entry way. I felt like I definitely got the upper hand on that one.
Cycling hero of the year
I’m gonna go with Logan Martin. He rides so smooth, and effortlessly, it’s truly a pleasure to watch him ride a course. Pretty amazing for him to win the Jersey as well this year.
Other cycling discipline I would like to try
Track cycling would be awesome!
Those banked turns in the velodrome look like fun at speed. Not sure I could get the bike going that fast, but maybe I could take an e-bike on there??
My favourite cycling race/competition as a competitor
I like the first competition of the year. You get to see all your friends in person again, see what people have been working on, how they’ve progressed. It’s just a really good time.
My favourite cycling race/competition as a spectator
Any of them, really. The level of riding is so high that it is always a great show! I guess the World Cup in Montpellier is a favourite. The crowd gets really into it there.
My sporting ambition(s) for 2018
Ride well, make finals, smile.