The 2024 Fifteen BMX ‘Pro’s Pro of the Year’
The 2024 Fifteen BMX ‘Pro’s Pro of the Year’
It’s the third year of the Fifteen BMX ‘Pro’s Pro of the Year’. A year that voting would obviously be influenced by the Paris 2024 Olympics, although, had 2024 not been an Olympic year it would still be hard to argue against the two eventual winners.
In order to win, they needed the votes of their peers, of which only the top 20 UCI ranked Elite Men and Women qualify a vote. We also polled a handful of others who would have their finger on the pulse, so to say. They would be mostly former World Class Elite riders, some of whom are now in the coaching business and a few others connected to the World Cup circuit.
All voting is anonymous, which we hope, and we’re pretty sure it did, eliminated any friendship bias. While voting, some included explanations as to why they voted the way they did, and we’ve included some of those below … also anonymous. Thank you to everyone who took the time!
So, who did the pros vote for in 2024, who’s the ‘Pro’s Pro of the Year’? Like both previous year’s incarnations, the outcome in 2024 was overwhelmingly decisive. What a year both athletes have had …
2024 Male ‘Pro’s Pro of the Year’ is
JORIS DAUDET
In 2024, France’s Joris Daudet, cemented his claim as the ‘Greatest of all Time’, the GOAT … Olympic Gold in a historic French podium sweep, taking another World Title in Rock Hill, as well as winning the two opening rounds of the UCI World Cup Series in New Zealand. Joris received a massive 83% of the vote for the 2024 male, ‘Pro’s Pro of the Year’. The only question now, is … what’s next …
2024 Female ‘Pro’s Pro of the Year’ is
SAYA SAKAKIBARA
For the second year in a row, Australia’s Saya Sakakibara has been voted the Female ‘Pro’s Pro of the Year’, and she did it with 62% of the voting. Winning four of the six UCI World Cup rounds, with two second place finishes in both Australian rounds, and then leaving Paris with an Olympic Gold medal, its not difficult to understand why. Saya has been on a media whirlwind since the Games, but we expect her to pick up where she left off with the 2025 season kicks off.
With Joris completely dominating the men’s voting, it was hard for anyone else to even get a glimmer of the podium. His French teammate, Sylvain Andre finished second, after an injury plagued year cumulated in an Olympic Silver medal in Paris.
On the women’s side, W1, Alise Willoughby followed Saya home in the voting with The Netherland’s Manon Veenstra also picking up some votes after a blisteringly good year, which included an Olympic medal, finishing on the podium.
‘Saya Sakakibara, it’s an obvious choice, but her level has been a notch above. Honourable mention to Manon Veenstra for her consistency and progression. Men’s Pro of the Year … Joris Daudet. Again, probably the most obvious choice but his GOAT status is secured after the O Show gold.’
‘Joris, the greatest and most consistent champion in BMX. Alise, her worlds win at 33 in a stacked young class, impressive!’
‘Zoe, consistent and great rider, also an Olympic medallist now! Men, I’ll say Sylvain to come back from where he was injury wise to come back and still perform and get a medal.’
‘Sylvain, he literally rode how he did taping his hands to his bars. He doesn’t need explanation; he is a legend! Saya, the way she learned and turned things around after worlds shows insane mental strength!’
‘Female pro, Saya! The most consistent and most dominant when it counted, Olympic Gold and won every lap at the Games. Her focus is inspiring. Male pro, Joris. Veteran of the sport but isn’t stopping anytime soon and only seems to be getting faster! Olympic gold, very deserving!’
‘Male pro is easily Joris. What an incredible year he’s had. The definition of resilience. Female, I’m going to have to say Manon Veenstra. Really made her mark in the Elite woman category especially, with that silver medal!’
‘Joris Daudet, doesn’t need explanation, results speak.’
‘I really want to say Joris because he is the literally GOAT, but Sylvain making his first O show and medalling at what, 32, is just so sick and inspiring. And Manon Veenstra, she is such a hard worker, and it just shines through in every way (not just her results- which clearly show her dedication as well). Both are badass and have my utmost respect and admiration.’
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