The 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Cup opened in spectacular fashion in Sarrians with the first round on Saturday 6 June and the second round the following day. The French venue hosted intense action with several breakthrough victories, some home success and a number of emerging talents making their mark in the opening rounds of the season.
Round one Elite: Brink and Simpson make their intentions clear
One of the revelations of round one was Jaymio Brink, who claimed the first UCI BMX Racing World Cup victory of his career. After a poor start, the Dutch rider delivered when it mattered most to claim a landmark win and begin his campaign in perfect fashion. Colombian Diego Arboleda Ospina crossed the line in second followed by the only home French rider to make the podium, Sylvain André.
In the Women Elite category, Molly Simpson picked up where she left off in Sarrians one year ago. The Canadian opened her 2026 UCI World Cup campaign with victory, mirroring her winning start at the same venue last season. She looked comfortable throughout the day and delivered another confident ride in the final.
Joining Simpson on the podium were Denmark’s Malene Kejlstrup in second and Australia’s Olympic Champion Saya Sakakibara (3rd).
Round one Under-23: Host nation celebrates two podium spots
The Men Under-23 category provided French supporters with the home success they craved thanks to Léo Le Bougeant, who delighted the crowd by winning the final. Another Frenchman, Clément Rocherieux, finished third. The two home riders were separated by Australia’s Joshua Jolly, in second place.
The Women Under-23 competition saw Great Britain’s Freia Challis make a dominant start to her UCI BMX Racing World Cup season. At just 18 years old, she demonstrated remarkable composure and speed, steering clear of crashes in a dramatic final to take the win in front of Isabella Schramm (AUS) and Robyn Gommers (BEL) Goum in third.
Round two: Arboleda Ospina goes one better
After a solid second place the previous day, Arboleda Ospina tasted victory on Sunday, taking the win in round two from Frenchman Eddy Clerté and the USA’s Cameron Wood. The red plate holder Brink lost the momentum from his previous day’s win, finishing fifth in the 1/8 final.
Brink was not the only big name to be eliminated in the 1/8 final: talented athletes such as Jesse Asmus (AUS), Drew Polk and Kamren Larsen from the USA, Saturday’s finalist Léo Garoyan (FRA) and Rico Bearman (NZL) did not transfer to the 1/4 final.
The Women Elite final on Sunday had pretty much all the favourites at the start. When the gate dropped, the inside lines with Sakakibara and Simpson proved to be fruitful, with the Australian getting the holeshot followed by the previous day’s winner. These positions didn’t change through to the finish line. In the fight for third, Michelle Wissing (NED) passed the experienced Zoé Claessens (SUI) for third – her first Women Elite podium on her first weekend of racing the UCI BMX Racing World Cup at Elite level.
French success in the Men Under 23 category was almost a given with Matteo Faure and Clément Rocherieux winning their semi-finals, taking Léo Bougeant and Mathis Jacquet with them into the finals. Just like at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, it was a 1-2-3 for France: 1 Rocherieux, followed by Le Bougeant, and Jacquet. The Netherlands’ Renske Van Santvoort took the Women Under 23 final, her first UCI World Cup win, after taking the best start from gate seven. She was followed by Laura Mougey (FRA), with two British riders fighting for the last podium spot. Finally, it was Freia Challis who took third place in front of Elsa Rendall Todd.
Rounds three and four of the 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Cup will take place in Papendal, the Netherlands next weekend (13-14 June).