Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships Qualifier | Genk, Belgium 2024
20 April 2024
Photos Robert Hendriksen | Patje Cosyn (Podiums)
Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships Qualifier | Genk, Belgium 2024
20 April 2024
Photos Robert Hendriksen | Patje Cosyn (Podiums)
The Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championship qualifiers are back, with the first in the worldwide trek going down in Genk, Belgium, last weekend. The 2019 Velosolutions track in Genk was the first built in Belgium, and served as the perfect battleground for riders to test their skills on its technical twists and turns. With each corner presenting a new challenge, competitors were pushed to their limits in search of the fastest line!
The series last rolled into Genk in 2022, but had to be cut short because of torrential downpours, but this year the riders were welcomed with sunny skies.
As you would expect in Belgium, the 2021 Pump Track World Champion, Aiko Gommers, was in attendance and looking for an early ticket to the yet undisclosed final’s location later this year. It didn’t take Aiko long to assert her dominance! She set the pace early on with a lightning-fast lap time, under 25 seconds! To take the top step of the podium, Aiko first had to face her twin sister, Robyn, in the semi-final, and then yet another Belgium rider, Julie Heusequin in the final. The Nederland’s Anne Boss took third place after her ‘small final’ run off with Robyn Gommers. All four riders secure a spot in World Championship finals, with Aiko getting that invaluable funded trip.
WOMEN:
1: Aiko Gommers (BEL) – 24,650
2: Julie Heusequin (BEL) – 25,055
3: Anne Boss (NED) – 25,371
4: Robyn Gommers (BEL) – 25,617
On the men’s side of the draw, the current BMX Racing World Champion in the Men’s 25-29 class, and no stranger to the Pump Track series, Kristaps Veksa, was also looking for an early path to the finals. From the outset, the Latvian, was clocking in sub 22 second laps, and looked like the one to beat. Interestingly, Kristaps, will not be going to Rock Hill next month to defend his race title, but instead has decided to focus on the Pump Track series this year. In 2021 he started racing Pump Track, ‘just for fun’ and ended up finishing sixth at the finals in Lisbon. ‘The finals last year did not go so well,’ Kristaps told us, ‘but I know my mistakes and I want to put results on paper, because the speed is there. Since 2021 my goal has been World Champion in Pump Track.’
Belgium’s Didi Van Tiggel, had no plans to make it easy for Kristaps in Genk, matching times stride for stride, and showcasing incredible skill and determination throughout the knockout rounds! Their showdown in the final was tense, with Veksa delivering his fastest run of the day to secure his ticket to the World Championships! Another Belgian, Loris Jeanmoye, rounded out the podium in third place.
MEN:
1: Kristaps Veksa (LAT) – 21,720
2: Didi Van Tiggel (BEL) – 21,932
3: Loris Jeanmoye (BEL) – 22,503
4: Jesse Elzenga (NED) – 22, 838
The series rolls into Sepheo, Lesotho (Africa) next Saturday, the 27th April … 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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