Niels Bensink | Gearing up for the 2023 UCI Pump Track World Championships

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Photos by Niels Bensink / Moonhead Media

Niels Bensink | Gearing up for the 2023 UCI Pump Track World Championships

Follow Niels Bensink on Instagram

Photos by Niels Bensink / Moonhead Media

The 2023 UCI Pump Track World Championships are less than a week away and the 2022 Men’s World Champion, Niels Bensink, is gearing up for his defence of the UCI rainbow stripes. He’ll be shredding Austria’s Area 47 indoor Velosolutions creation on his brand-new alloy Meybo HSX … fitted with OS20 wheels. Unlike the prototype frame he won on last year in Chile, the 2024 bike is a ‘standard’ frame that is ‘compatible’ with OS20. We believe it’s the exact same geometry as the Carbon version of the frame we see ripping up tracks at the UCI BMX Racing World Cups. Niels put it like this … ‘Yes, this is the normal 20” inch HSX frame but with some minor changes to fit the OS20 wheels. It has the same design and geometry as the carbon frame. In my opinion this is such a great feature to have because you can switch set ups between different tracks or to suit your riding style, and even ride a mullet if you wish. The main reason for me to opt for the bigger wheels two years ago was the smaller gap to the 26” wheels I am so used to. Only then I found out how much faster the bike rolls once it’s up to speed. It also rides a lot more comfortable which saves energy.’ Niel’s did let us know he’s been testing the option of riding ‘mullet’ (OS20 in front, 20” rear wheel), but won’t commit to whether we’ll see this next weekend in Austria.

If you follow Niels on social media, and you should, you will have seen him riding a lot of MTB on pump tracks so we were glad to see him with a new BMX for the event, answering the age old question … what’s quicker around a pump track, a MTB or BMX? ‘I feel a lot better on the BMX this time as last year the first time I rode it in 4 months was the first day of practice’, Niels told us. ‘My BMX is definitely a racing machine that wants to go fast every lap. On my dirt jumper I can play around a bit more with a little bit more room for error. Both have their benefits and disadvantages. But when it comes to asphalt racing, I’ll stick to the BMX!’

This week will be Niels first time to ride the Velosolutions track in Area 47, but like everyone one else who has seen the videos from the venue he is impressed, ‘it looks like a dope set up’, he remarked, but he does think it will present some new challenges, ‘I think it’s a complete different track that requires different skills, a different strategy and more precision. Cornering will be the name of the game this year which I am really excited about. A mountain bike background might be an advantage this year. The lap times will be half of what they were last year so I am curious to see what the gaps will be like’.

Meybo HSX 2024 Alloy Edition Frame XXXL

(OS20 and 20” Compatible with Fixed Rear End and Chain Guide)

SD Components X Carbon Forks, OS20 Compatible

Prototype Carbon OS20 SD Component Rims

SD Sniper Pro Hubs

Vee Tire Co Speedbooster OS20 x 1.85 Front and Rear

Box One Oversized Chromoly 8” Bars

Box One Oversized Top Load Stem 53mm

Box One x ODI Lock-On Grips

Box Two Integrated Headset

Shimano XT Flat Mount Disc Brake with 120mm Disc

Box One Carbon Seat

Box One Quick Release Clamp

Beringer E2 Elite Cranks 175mm

SD Components Bottom Bracket

HT Components AE05 Flat Pedals

Box Components Two 46-18T Chainring

KMC Z1eHX Chain

Mechanic: Willie Meijer

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Meybo HSX 2024 Alloy Edition Frame XXXL

(OS20 and 20” Compatible with Fixed Rear End and Chain Guide)

SD Components X Carbon Forks, OS20 Compatible

Prototype Carbon OS20 SD Component Rims

SD Sniper Pro Hubs

Vee Tire Co Speedbooster OS20 x 1.85 Front and Rear

Box One Oversized Chromoly 8” Bars

Box One Oversized Top Load Stem 53mm

Box One x ODI Lock-On Grips

Box Two Integrated Headset

Shimano XT Flat Mount Disc Brake with 120mm Disc

Box One Carbon Seat

Box One Quick Release Clamp

Beringer E2 Elite Cranks 175mm

SD Components Bottom Bracket

HT Components AE05 Flat Pedals

Box Components Two 46-18T Chainring

KMC Z1eHX Chain

Mechanic: Willie Meijer

Since the inception of the Pump Track World Championships, the skill level has exploded in both the men’s and women’s classes, with some riders arguably becoming specialists in the discipline, making winning the stripes more difficult with every passing year. When pressed on his confidence levels, the reigning World Champion seems quietly optimistic while recognising the mammoth task ahead, ‘I don’t know how I am feeling to be honest. I know what I’m capable of and I’ve done it before but at the same time I see the rise in popularity of Pump Track racing and the value of the rainbow jersey to everyone else. It seems like all of us have stepped up our game once more and with not a lot of opportunities every year to race your competitors it’s hard to gauge where you stand. I feel like we are in for some very tight racing that’s for sure’. When it comes to the lap times, the vector that will ultimately decide the new World Champion, Niels is surprisingly not overly concerned about them, ‘For me the times mean not much. You can be fast early, but it doesn’t mean you win the race. It’s my 5th World Champs and I trust my experience so I will go with the flow and do what I’ve been doing every year which is ticking off clean laps wasting no energy. In the end I’m a huge fan of the sport and all the riders so I will watch everybody closely as a super fan’ … Niels knows it will take a lot more that the ability to post fast times this weekend to life the trophy. The Pump Track World Championships is ultimately a war of attrition … where experience, strategy and cunning may be just as important as raw speed and skill … we can’t wait to see what happens in Austria this weekend.   

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2022 Red Bull Pump Track Worlds Meybo OS20 Prototype | Niels Bensink

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Photos by Moonhead Media

​2022 Red Bull Pump Track Worlds Meybo OS20 Prototype | Niels Bensink

Follow Niels Bensink on Instagram

Photos by Moonhead Media

Niels Bensink had a custom Meybo with him at the 2021 Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships (see here) and is now making a tradition of it! Niels is now in Santiago, Chile at the 2022 Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships and he has brought something very interesting with him, a prototype alloy Meybo OS20 frame with it’s roots firmly in the carbon HSX design. If that wasn’t interesting enough, it’s been custom painted for the Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships … feast your eyes …

Watch the 2022 Red Bull UCI Pump Track World Championships Live >> HERE

Meybo 2024 Alloy Prototype OS20 (22”) Frame

Custom Paint by A & S Designs

Answer Dagger Forks

Beringer 175mm Cranks

BOX Components Cockpit​

Meybo 2024 Alloy Prototype OS20 (22”) Frame

Custom Paint by A & S Designs

Answer Dagger Forks

Beringer 175mm Cranks

BOX Components Cockpit​

SD Components Drivetrain

HT Component Pedals

SD Components Rims and Hubs

Shimano XT Brakes

Vee Tire OS20 Speedbooster Tyres​

SD Components Drivetrain

HT Component Pedals

SD Components Rims and Hubs

Shimano XT Brakes

Vee Tire OS20 Speedbooster Tyres

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Custom Meybo OS20 | Niels Bensink’s KTM Pump Track Worlds Edition

Words & images by Niels Bensink

Custom Meybo OS20 | Niels Bensink’s KTM Pump Track Worlds Edition

Words & Images by Niels Bensink

Who isn’t intrigued by the good old days? The KTM 250cc 1981 edition was considered, by many, the fastest stock dirt bike built at the time. My dad used to own and race one in the early 80’s and can confirm it was indeed a beast. A good reason for me to replicate this iconic bike in honour of my dad’s career and the path that it lead us to. A cool extra is that it resembles the Dutch colours like no other which makes it a perfect build for this years Red Bull Pump Track World Championships in Lisbon, Portugal. With a couple special paint features I got to give it my own little twist as well.

It is not just a regular BMX build. I will be racing an OS20 (22’’) BMX in a regular 20 inch XXXL Meybo HSX frame. Bigger wheels, more stability, faster rolling speed and a higher average speed, bigger wheelbase, more traction and more comfort. Ideal for a no pedal race and the closest I could get to the feel of a hardtail mountainbike without running a dirtjumper. The KTM was innovative for it’s time, just like the oversized Meybo I ride today. And luckily Vee Tire produces OS20 tires to make the set up complete.

This year marks my 11th year with Meybo Bikes and I couldn’t see myself riding with anything else. I can’t thank Meybo Bikes, BMX24Seven and A&S Designs enough for such a hell of a job they did on such short notice and giving me the chance to create a custom build for this one off event.  It came out better than I imagined and it feels special to swing my leg over this dream build with a little personal story.  I can’t wait for the first lap on the track this week. The colours will be popping under the Portuguese sun!

Meybo Bikes 20’’ XXXL HSX ‘KTM 1981 250 Replica’ Frame

Components Pro V2 Alloy Forks

Box One 8-inch Bars

Box One Lock-On Grips

Box One Top Load 53mm Stem

SD Components Headset

Meybo Bikes 20’’ XXXL HSX ‘KTM 1981 250 Replica’ Frame

Components Pro V2 Alloy Forks

Box One 8-inch Bars

Box One Lock-On Grips

Box One Top Load 53mm Stem

SD Components Headset

Shimano XTR Disc Brake

SD Components – 120mm Disc

Box One Seat

Box One Quick Release Clamp

SD-X OS20 Rims

SD-X Sniper Pro Hubs

Vee Tire OS20 1.75 Speedbooster Tyres

Vee Tire Tubes

Shimano XTR Disc Brake

SD Components – 120mm Disc

Box One Seat

Box One Quick Release Clamp

SD-X OS20 Rims

SD-X Sniper Pro Hubs

Vee Tire OS20 1.75 Speedbooster Tyres

Vee Tire Tubes

Box One 1.75mm Cranks

SD Components Integrated Bottom Bracket

SD Components SD-X 47T Chainring

SD Components 17T Rear Cog

KMC Chain

SD Components Tensioner

HT Components AE05 Pedals

Custom Paint by A&S Designs

Box One 1.75mm Cranks

SD Components Integrated Bottom Bracket

SD Components SD-X 47T Chainring

SD Components 17T Rear Cog

KMC Chain

SD Components Tensioner

HT Components AE05 Pedals

Custom Paint by A&S Designs

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