Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships Qualifiers | Sweden & Armenia 2025

Photos Sweden: Emrik Jansson Photography

Photos Armenia: Alexander Ekarev

Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships Qualifiers | Sweden & Armenia 2025

Photos Sweden: Emrik Jansson Photography

Photos Armenia: Alexander Ekarev

The final two qualifiers for the Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships went down last weekend in Sweden and Armenia, where some big names turned up looking to secure a spot for the UCI Rainbow jersey race in Switzerland on September 5th …

Sweden | 9 August 2025

Both the crowds and the summer sun came out in Ängelholm at the world-class pump track set for the World’s qualifier. On Sweden’s west coast, the town blends sandy beaches, small-town charm and serious riding credentials. Already home to the country’s largest BMX track, the venue added a 1,950 m² Velosolutions Pump Track in 2024.

180 riders from across the globe descended on the venue for the Pump Track World Youth Challenge and the Elite Qualifier, creating an atmosphere charged with anticipation.

Love Sylwan set the pace early on, smashing the fastest lap ever recorded on the Ängelholm track in his opening timed run with a 15.817. Brajan Nowak and former World Champion, and current Elite Men’s BMX Racing W3, Eddy Clerté, kept the pressure on all day, with Eddy breaking the sub-16 barrier in his semi-final to secure his spot in the final.

The 2021 World Champion showed that consistency, focus and skill counts, taking the win after Love wobbled and went down hard near the finish. Brajan claimed second, and Fritz Rose rode consistently to secure fourth.

On the women’s side of the draw, Helena Sund wasted no time stamping her authority on the field, setting the pace in the first round with a 17.689. Felicia Klingström, calm and confident as ever, kept edging closer, saving her best for last and laying down her fastest lap, and the quickest of the day for the women, with a 17.518 in the final to take the win. Vineta Petersone was solid all day for third, with Lena Szerling in fourth.

Elite Women:

1: Felicia Klingström

2: Helena Sund

3: Vineta Petersone

4: Lena Szerling

Elite Men:

1:  Clerté Eddy

2: Love Sylwan

3: Brajan Nowak

4: Fritz Rose

Armenia | 9 August 2025

A warm day in Vanadzor, Armenia’s Boo Mountainbike Park produced fast laps, big battles, and a post-race BBQ for riders and volunteers. Local heroes Arpine Yeprikyan and Vahe Virabyan each took home a brand-new Trek bike and punched their tickets to the World Final.

On the serious end of the scale, Olympian, Nadine Aeberhard, fresh from the BMX Racing World Championships in Copenhagen, was unstoppable from the outset, with Germany’s Alina Beck and Amy Kissova locked in a fierce fight for second. Alina edged ahead in the semi, while Anastasiia Beskrovnaia joined her husband Ilia in qualifying for Monthey, Switzerland. Arpine Yeprikyan claimed her place for the September finals, as the qualifying field extended to the top five, Amelia already had her ticket from an earlier round.

In Elite Men, Filip Matiaško was the man to beat, going sub-17 and keeping Ilia Beskrovnyi at bay despite his rival’s lightning pace. Tanguy Grandjean rode through injury to qualify, and Jakub Wicher finally secured his long-awaited ticket.  Vahe Virabyan claimed the last spot as the fastest Armenian, with Ilia already qualified earlier this year in the UAE.

Elite Women:

1: Nadine Aeberhard

2: Alina Beck

3: Amelia Kissova (already qualified)

4:  Anastasiia Beskrovnaia

5: Arpine Yeprikyan

Elite Men:

1: Filip Matiaško

2:  Ilia Beskrovnyi (already qualified)

3:  Tanguy Grandjean

4:  Jakub Wicher

5:  Vahe Virabyan

All eyes will now turn to Monthey, Switzerland on September 5th for the UCI Velosolutions Pump Track World Championships …

For all the latest info. on the series, check out the links below …

Velosolutions UCI Pump Track: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Velosolutions: Website | Instagram | Facebook

UCI: Website | Instagram | Facebook

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Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships Qualifiers | Texas & Colorado, USA 2025

Sugar Land Photos: Photos Symax Sports / Sugar Land TX Gov

Erie Photos: Black Sparrow Media

Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships Qualifiers | Texas & Colorado, USA 2025

Sugar Land Photos: Photos Symax Sports / Sugar Land TX Gov

Erie Photos: Black Sparrow Media

​The 2025 Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championship Qualifiers spent the last two weekends in the USA, the first in Texas, followed by Erie, Colorado, and they came with 16 spots for the World Finals to be held in Switzerland later this year.

First up was Sugar Land, Texas, where BMX star and former Pump Track World Champion, Payton Ridenour opted out of the USA BMX Bakersfield National, and instead made the trip to Texas. Her decision earned her a funded trip to Switzerland this September where she’ll be racing for the UCI Rainbow Stripes. It was great to see her back at the Pump Track events after a short break. In the region of 600 spectators gathered at the Velosolutions track to see her win. Payton edged out Rylie Elkin and Judith McClain in the podium race.

Joining Payton on the flight to Switzerland will be the ever present, Tommy Zula, who was also in Sugar Land busting out the fastest times. Zula, also a former World Champion had to contend with the 2023 World Champion, Alec Bob, who ultimately finished second.

Women:

1: Payton Ridenour

2: Rylie Elkin

3: Judith McClain

4: Kim Fischer

Men:

1: Tommy Zula

2: Alec Bob

3: Brady Kincheloe

4: Amakye Anderson

A week after Texas, the series rolled into Erie, Colorado. The Revolution Pump Track played host to one of the most thrilling weekends we’ve seen so far this season. With its high-speed layout and technical features, the stage was set for some major showdowns … and the riders delivered.

In the men’s race, Brady Kincheloe looked locked in from the start, a regular on the circuit he was, as always, fast and smooth. But when the final rolled around, he had a couple of tiny slip and gave Kenneth Gustafson an opening. With the pressure on and everything riding on his final run, Kenneth kept it calm, clean, and blazingly fast to edge the win by half a second. Keep an eye on him in Switzerland.

The women’s final was even tighter. Maylei Leaneagh dropped in first and clocked her fastest lap of the weekend when it counted most. Hailey Vaughn, fastest qualifier, pushed hard and kept it clean, but Maylei took the win and the World finals ticket by a razor-thin margin of just 0.1 seconds.

Men:

1: Kenneth Gustafson

2: Brady Kincheloe

3: Amakye Anderson

4: Grant Lampson

Women:

1: Maylei Leaneagh

2: Hailey Vaughn

3: Ashley Kincheloe

4: Isabella Sargent

Next up is Redhead Beach, in Australia, and Arrubal, Spain, both on May 17th. Find out more HERE .

For all the latest info. on the series, check out the links below …

Velosolutions UCI Pump Track: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Velosolutions: Website | Instagram | Facebook

UCI: Website | Instagram | Facebook

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Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships Qualifiers | California, USA 2025

Photos Randumshots

Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships Qualifiers | California, USA 2025

Photos Randumshots

The Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championship​ Qualifier series went west this past weekend to The Loop in Corcoran, California, for the first of three qualifiers in the USA this season. With some of the sport’s biggest hitters in attendance and some 1500 spectators lining the track it was an action-packed, adrenaline-fueled day of racing! 

The 2023 World Champion, Alec Bob, on his ‘green machine’ (we clearly missed his departure from Dvide), looked like he had something to prove after taking bronze at the last World Final, and he didn’t disappoint. He dominated the event from start to finish to claim victory. Tommy Zula, another previous World Champion, however, had an easier path to second after Brady Kincheloe suffered a flat tire in the semis, knocking him out of the competition. Kincheloe still managed to rally for third, proving he had the speed to be up front. Max Clark, the fresh face in the field, made a strong debut to claim fourth.

​

Other than Olivia Armstrong always putting in a strong performance at the Pump Track events, and ultimately taking the win here, it was the reemergence of Olympian, Brooke Crain, who caught our attention. Brooke took second place on the podium, earning her a place at the Swiss finals in September. Will we see Brooke at the upcoming Texas or Colorado qualifiers looking for the funded trip to Europe or was she here for the pure fun? We suspect the latter but are hoping it’s the former. We shall see! Ashley Kincheloe, another regular on the circuit, rounded out the podium in third. Taylor Weisser put in a solid ride to take fourth.

Elite Men:

1: Alec Bob (USA | BMX)

2: Tommy Zula (USA | MTB)

3: Brady Kincheloe (USA | BMX)

4: Max Clark (GER | MTB)

Elite Women:

1: Olivia Armstrong (USA | BMX)

2: Brooke Crain (USA | BMX)

3: Ashley Kincheloe (USA | BMX)

4: Taylor Weisser (USA | BMX)

Next in the series is Cape Town, South Africa on the 13th of April, followed by the UAE a week later on the 19th.

See the upcoming qualifiers HERE.

For all the latest info. on the series, check out the links below …

Velosolutions UCI Pump Track: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Velosolutions: Website | Instagram | Facebook

UCI: Website | Instagram | Facebook

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2024 French Cup | Rounds 9 & 10 Chapelle

19th – 20th October

Written by Damien Ethalon

Photo’s by  Kaptur Photography. Purchase shots from the French Cup HERE 

2024 French Cup | Rounds 9 & 10 Chapelle

19th – 20th October

Written by Damien Ethalon

Photo’s by  Kaptur Photography. Purchase shots from the French Cup HERE 

All good things must come to an end, so after a long and exciting season, it was time for the fifth and last French Cup weekend of the year. Everybody descended on La Chapelle Saint Mesmin, near Orleans, in the middle of France, for the last two rounds of the 2024 series. La Chapelle is a very famous location on the BMX map, which had organized a Euro Cup round back in 2006. But now they have a totally new supercross facility. A very long track, with huge turns and a big Pro section on the second straight. Unfortunately, it had only just been finished recently, and with the heavy rain all week long it turned it into a very soft track, with slippery turns, especially on Saturday … once again the French Cup fall victim of the weather.

​On day one, after several nasty crashes in the Junior category due to the track being really soft, the race director decided to cancel all the races after the 1/8 finals. Once again it would be a one-day racing weekend, or let’s say one and a half. Not the ideal scenario for sure, but it is what it is.

So, it was all about Sunday, and in the Elite Women class Axelle Etienne maintained her winning streak with another convincing success. She has really been unbeatable at home since the Olympics. Camille Maire was consistent as usual and grabbed another podium with a 2nd, while Léonie Druart made her first ever podium in the Elite class! Jodie Viemont and Marie Favrel made it to the main once again finishing 4th and 5th. Bad luck for Léa Brindjonc, Teigen Pascual the Canadian girl who was there with a few other riders from the UCI Center, as well as Celia Bonnet, who all went down in the first turn!

Despite this crash, Lea Brindjonc had a solid lead in the ranking and grabbed the title ahead of Camille Maire who’s been strong all year long. Axelle Etienne finished 3rd in the series, thanks to her impressive second part of the season.

Women’s Result:

1: Axelle ETIENNE

2: Camille MAIRE

3: Leonie DRUART

4: Jodie VIEMONT

5: Marie FAVREL

6: Lea BRINDJONC

7: Teigen PASCUAL

8: Celia BONNET

Women’s Overall Ranking:

1: Lea BRINDJONC 366 pts

2: Camille MAIRE 329 pts

3: Axelle ETIENNE 315 pts

On the men side, the three Olympians were absent and even the series leader and newly crowned French Champion Arthur Pilard didn’t line up as he had surgery on his ankle right after national championships. The door was open for the underdogs! After Saturday’s incidents, a few riders decided the track wasn’t safe enough and didn’t race … despite all this drama, there were still a lot of fast guys on the gate.

The main had a strong international flavor with four different nationalities represented. But it was France who took the win with a very strong lap from Leo Garoyan. Leo seems to be back in his best shape, and it showed. Dylan Gobert finished 2nd, his best result this year. Meanwhile Mathis Louet scored his best career result so far with an enormous 3rd place! Colombia’s Juan Naranjo and Belgium’s with Wannes Magdelijns were not far behind. Tanguy Rivoire finished 6th and was the last Frenchy of this main as two riders crashed in the first turn. It was the Kiwi, Michael Bias, and Latvian rider Martins Treimanis who made the trip to France worth it!

Bias took full advantage of Pilard’s absence and despite his crash in the main managed to score enough points to grab the series overall. Mission accomplished!

Men’s Result:

1: Leo GAROYAN

2: Dylan GOBERT

3: Mathis LOUET

4: Juan NARANJO

5: Wannes MAGDELIJNS

6: Tanguy RIVOIRE

7: Michael BIAS

8: Martins TREIMANIS

Men’s Overall Ranking:

1: Michael BIAS 442 pts

2: Arthur PILARD 436 pts

3: Mathis RAGOT RICHARD 331 pts

The 2024 French Cup is now over, but we’re looking forward to 2025 with the following races on the calendar:

March 22 & 23: DESCARTES

April 12 & 13: TROYES (Supercross Track)

May 24 & 25: GUIPAVAS

June 7 & 8: SARRIANS (Supercross Track)

September 13& 14: TBA

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2024 French Cup | 7 & 8 Guipavas​

21st – 22nd September

Written by Damien Ethalon

Photo’s by  Kaptur Photography. Purchase shots from the French Cup HERE 

2024 French Cup | 7 & 8 Guipavas​

21st – 22nd September

Written by Damien Ethalon

Photo’s by  Kaptur Photography. Purchase shots from the French Cup HERE 

​After a crazy summer with a triple French podium at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games it was time for the French BMX circuit to return to the French Cup. Everybody looked west coast, to Guipavas, near Brest, on the Atlantic coast for two more rounds of the series.

The Guipavas track is small, with a 5m hill, no ‘pro section’ and tight, slippery turns due to the rain, especially on Saturday. A set of circumstances that would add up to a lot of crashes over the weekend, unfortunately.

On the men side, as expected the three Olympic medalists did not show, but the women’s silver medalist, Manon Veenstra, who is racing for a French team, made the trip.

After a disappointing 7th place in the Olympic final, Axelle Etienne, was looking for a revenge! And she was impressive in Guipavas, taking the win both days, emphatically! The expectation was a battle between her and Veenstra but unfortunately Manon crashed hard in a first turn pile up during the main on Saturday and didn’t line up on Sunday. Emma Patraccone grabbed another podium with a 2nd place on Saturday, while Zoé Hapka did the same on Sunday. But the most consistent women behind Axelle were Marie Favrel who finished with a 3rd and a 4th on her home track, and veteran Manon Valentino who had the same results but in reverse … 4th and 3rd.

Lea Brindjonc reached the main twice with a 6th on Saturday due to the crash, and a 7th on Sunday. The Olympic alternate Tessa Martinez and Camille maire were also involved in the first turn carnage during Saturday’s main.

Three youngsters made a main appearance on Sunday with Naelle Michaud finishing 5th,  Avril Pillet 6th and Laurine Crozet 8th.

​

Elite Women: Saturday

1. ETIENNE

2. PATRACCONE

3. FAVREL

4. VALENTINO

5. MARTINEZ

6. BRINDJONC

7. MAIRE

8. VEENSTRA

Elite Women: Sunday

1. ETIENNE

2. HAPKA

3. VALENTINO

4. FAVREL

5. MICHAUD

6. PILLET

7. BRINDJONC

8. CROZET

Ranking after 7 Rounds:

1. Lea BRINDJONC 325 pts

2. Emma PATRACCONE 278 pts

3. Camille MAIRE 273 pts

4. Axelle ETIENNE 252 pts

5. Zoe HAPKA 214 pts

​Guipavas is not his home track but the west coast, most specifically, Bretagne is his homeland … we are of course talking about Arthur Pilard! The current European Champion was absolutely unbeatable all weekend, he left with a double victory!

Behind ‘King Pils’ were a lot of hungry youngsters who found their way to a main over the weekend.

Mathid Ragot Richard was crazy fast as usual, finishing 2nd on Saturday and 7th on Sunday. He was followed on both day by Roberto Bertagnoli, the Italian Olympian. Two other men made the main on both days; Hugo Marszalek rode very well with a 5th and an impressive 3rd, while Dylan Gobert is, slowly but surely, getting back to business with a 8th and a 4th. Tom Won Fah Hin made a huge impression finishing 4th on Saturday. While Louison Rousseau and Théo Thouin were also featured in the mains, getting 6th and 7th. The other noticeable performance came from the current U23 European champ Alexis Pieczanowsky who finished 2nd on Sunday. Tanguy Rivoire and Nathanael Dieuaide also reached the last lap of the day with a 5th and a 6th.

Elite Men: Saturday

1. PILARD

2. RAGOT RICHARD

3. BERTAGNOLI

4. WON FAH HIN

5. MARSZALEK

6. ROUSSEAU

7. THOUIN

8. GOBERT

Elite Men: Sunday

1. PILARD

2. PIECZANOWSKY

3. MARSZALEK

4. GOBERT

5. RIVOIRE

6. DIEUAIDE

7. RAGOT RICHARD

8. BERTAGNOLI

Ranking after 7 Rounds:

1. PILARD 436 pts

2. Michael BIAS 378 pts

3. Mathis RAGOT RICHARD 302 pts

4. Hugo MARZALEK 299 pts

5. Corentin DUBOIS 282 pts

The final two rounds of the 2024 French Cup will be held in La Chapelle Saint Mesmin, a brand new Supercross track, on October 19th and 20th.

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Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships Qualifiers | Canada and Switzerland 2024

Photos Andrea Heath Photography (Canada) | Luca De Vita (Switzerland)

Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships Qualifiers | Canada and Switzerland 2024

Photos Andrea Heath Photography (Canada) | Luca De Vita (Switzerland)

With only a handful of Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championship qualifying events left on the calendar, some of the biggest names in the discipline emerged over the last couple of weeks. All hoping to secure a win, and the resulting funded trip to the World Championship finals, and a shot at winning the coveted UCI Rainbow jersey in Durban, South Africa, on November 9th!

Sicamous, Canada | 7 September 2024

This was the first qualifying event to be held at the Velosolutions creation in Sicamous, British Colombia. Known for its stunning four-season outdoor adventure offerings, Sicamous proved to be the perfect backdrop for an exciting day of racing. And with a former men’s World Champion, Niels Bensink, in attendance, it was sure to be fast! The 600+ spectators at the races were in for a treat.

In the men’s event, Niels and Bas van Steenbergen where close all day, only separated by 0.876 seconds in the opening runs. But when it came to the final, Niels put in the fasted lap of the day with a blisteringly quick 21.686 seconds. Bas was over a second back with a 22.994 second lap time.

BMX racer, Olivia Armstrong, travelled north from the USA with hopes of African adventures. She set the pace with a best time of 25.892 in her second timed run. When the final rolled around, she was slightly slower, but fast enough to take the win from Karsen Tielen, who clocked in a final time of 26.080 seconds.

MEN:

1: Niels Bensink

2: Bas van Steenbergen

3: Andrew Towler

4: Alan Mandl

WOMEN:

1: Olivia Armstrong

2: Karsen Tielen

3: Rachelle Nielsen

4: Andrea Heath

Monthey, Switzerland | 14 September 2024

Just 20 minutes from Montreux and the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland, the Chablais region was the host of the second Swiss qualifier of the 2024 series. And multiple World Champion, Christa von Niederhäusern, came to play, decked out in the 2023 Rainbow jersey. The World Champion had already secured her 2024 World Championship place, so Monthey was more of an ominous exhibition …

Christa dominated from start to finish despite Olympic BMX Racer, Nadine Aeberhard, looking to broaden her horizons for the remainder of the year. A reminder that the pump track has evolved into a sport with a very specific skill set. Nadine’s deep skill set from the world of racing did secure her a second place on the podium, but you’d be a brave person to bet against Christa adding to her World titles in Durban.

The men’s side of the equation was also stacked in Switzerland, with lots of riders having vast amounts of experience on the circuit. The fastest qualifier, Tristan Bore, made an uncharacteristic mistake in the quarter finals, opening the door to the finals for Renato Rufener.

But it was France’s Thibault Dupont, who dominated, again. It was his 9th time to win a pump track qualifier and he will again be one to watch when it comes to the Rainbow jersey battle in November. Didi van Tiggel had to settle for second but will be hoping to upgrade that result in South Africa.

Interestingly, but probably not surprisingly, all eight worlds’ qualifiers from Monthey rode BMX, clearly the fastest way around a pump track.

WOMEN:

1: Christa von Niederhäusern

2: Nadine Aeberhard

3: Kristina Madarasova

4: Eloïse Donzallaz

MEN:

1: Thibault Dupont

2: Didi van Tiggel

3: Sirio Grünig

4: Renato Rufener

The Worlds finals in Durban, South Africa, are so close now, and you only have a couple of chances left to qualify. Erlangen, Germany tomorrow, Saturday the 21st, and the LCQ in Durban on November the 2nd.

See the upcoming qualifiers HERE.

For all the latest info. on the series, check out the links below …

Velosolutions UCI Pump Track: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Velosolutions: Website | Instagram | Facebook

UCI: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Subscribe to Fifteen >> HERE

Advertise on Fifteen BMX >> advertise@15.ie