Saya Sakakibara has started her UCI BMX Racing World Cup title defence strongly in France, winning Round 2 on Sunday after finishing third in the opening round on Saturday.
In the Round 2 final, the 26-year-old ARA Australian Cycling Team star grabbed the holeshot from Sarrians’ first gate and raced away from the chasing pack, led by Round 1 winner Molly Simpson (Canada), to win comfortably by 0.837 seconds.
The Olympic champion clocked the fastest women’s lap of the weekend to claim the 13th elite World Cup win of her career.
“It (the win) sets me up for the season,” Sakakibara said.
“You never really know coming into a new season, how … what you’ve been doing is going to work.
“Yesterday, I was able to get the fastest lap of the day, and I knew that I had an in me to get this win.
“There’s so many great riders on that gate today, and all I had to do was believe in myself, and I did.
“Because it’s such a short first straight, it’s so important to really get out in front and that’s how Molly (Simpson) did so well yesterday, and I knew I had the inside of her on this one. I knew that if I did my best gate, I would at least match her down the hill and it was going to be a race from there.”
The reigning three-time World Cup overall winner travels to rounds three and four next weekend in Papendal second in the points standings behind Simpson.
The Dutch double-header will be the final World Cups before Sakakibara turns her attention to a home 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Brisbane.
“I think the home World Championships is probably as big as the Olympic Games and it’s kind of a really good timing two years from the Games, and it’s going to be so special to be able to compete in a World Championships on home soil, (with a) home crowd,” she said.
“I can see how amazing the support here for the French, for Axelle (Étienne) on the gate. I had to smile for her because the crowd here is seriously so good.”
In the Under-23 classes, Josh Jolly and Bella Schramm both delivered second place finishes in Round 1.
For Schramm, the result was a maiden World Cup podium.
ResultsRound 1Elite WomenSaya Sakakibara – 3rdSienna Pal – 6thTeya Rufus – 21stBella May – DNSElite MenJesse Asmus – 28thOli Moran – 34thHayden Fletcher (Individual) – 75thJye Moon (Individual) – 77thU23 MenJosh Jolly – 2ndJordan Callum – 33rdAustin McNair (Individual) – 99thU23 WomenBella Schramm (Individual) – 2ndCharli Guy (Individual) – 6thMia Webster (Individual) – 23rdRound 2Elite WomenSaya Sakakibara – 3rdSienna Pal – 9thTeya Rufus – 16thBella May – DNSElite MenOli Moran – 52ndJesse Asmus – 56thHayden Fletcher (Individual) – 61stJye Moon (Individual) – 81stU23 MenJordan Callum – 10thJosh Jolly – 12thAustin McNair (Individual) – 99thU23 WomenCharli Guy (Individual) – 9thBella Schramm (Individual) – 10thMia Webster (Individual) – 12th
Feature picture: Navada Photography