The much anticipated 2016 UCI BMX World Championships will take place in Medellin, Colombia, from May 25 to 29. BMX riders from all over the world have spent the last few days exploring the host city and checking out the UCI World Championships track. Colombia's own Mariana Pajón, reigning UCI World Champion in the Elite Women time trial, has played a big role in promoting the race and is proud to welcome the BMX family to her hometown.
After two days of training, the Challenge and Masters classes will take over the five-metre hill tomorrow (Wednesday). First practice for the Junior and Elite riders is scheduled for Friday followed by the UCI BMX World Championships Time Trials on Saturday. The big championship day is Sunday when Niek Kimmann (NED) and Stefany Hernandez (VEN) will defend their rainbow jerseys in the Elite classes. Many top racers have been dealing with injuries the past few months, and for Americans Brooke Crain and Connor Fields the Worlds come too soon. Dutch riders Jelle van Gorkom, Twan van Gendt and Raymon van der Biezen all broke bones earlier in the season but are on the list to race in Medellin. For a lot of the Elite riders, a podium spot would mean a qualification spot for the Olympic Games in August adding to the importance of this year's UCI BMX Worlds. Sam Willoughby (AUS) will be looking for that #1 plate after getting so close last year in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. Switzerland's David Graf and Renaud Blanc have showed good speed in 2016 and their battle for an Olympic spot continues in Colombia. Liam Phillips (GBR) and Maris Strombergs (LAT) have both won a UCI World Cup round this year and have had the luxury of being able to pick which races to use as preparation for the major events of 2016: the UCI BMX World Championships and the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Current time trial UCI World Champ Joris Daudet (FRA) will have some tough competition coming from Canada on Saturday. Tory Nyhaug has won all three UCI BMX World Cup Time Trial Superfinals this year. It's fair to say that many riders have a shot at the title, which keeps it interesting.
In the Women’s competition, several athletes are in with a chance. Mariana Pajón (COL) who knows the track better than anyone, suffered a shoulder injury in Papendal but will do anything in her power to please the home crowd this weekend. Caroline Buchanan (AUS) is leading the 2016 UCI World Cup, and although her last World title dates back to 2013, in Auckland (NZL), she's ready to claim another rainbow jersey. If Alise Post (USA) doesn't make any mistakes on the track, the American could very well be the number one racer of the world at the end of the weekend but current UCI BMX World Champion Stefany Hernandez (VEN) won't let that happen easily. With a few underdogs also in the mix, the Women Elite class will be a thrilling spectacle.