BMX News Euro correspondent, Carl Lein has been busy since Maris crossed the finish line on Saturday. First, he processed and edited 144 images into an image gallery (link below). He also artfully assembled one of his “eZines” as a deeper-dive into the developments in France.

Carl’s stuff is always awesome, and we know you’ll have as much stoke about checking it out as we did.

Download the eZine (requires Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader)

Then, check out the image gallery

In today’s final round of the 2010 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup season, the overall title was going to be a tossup of points between Maris Strombergs and Sam Willoughby. Maris, who was running a temperature as the first gate dropped was the picture of health from then on, with a perfect day under his wheels by the time he blasted the champagne from high atop the topstep. Maris walked away with the win of the day, and the overall SX title for the year.

And just when you thought the book had been closed on “Pass Of The Year” contenders, here comes Connor Fields in the main event with an epic swoop to take him from last place to podium territory in turn one. Probably not enough juice on that one to outshine Nic Long’s winning move in turn three at Chula V, but it was the move of the day, for sure.

The “run it in if you have to” award goes to Sam Willoughby for his fourth place in the quarters. Into the last turn, it was Marc Willers and David Herman in one and two. The turns were a bit loose all day long, and it looked like David crabbed his front wheel as he carved into the pinnacle, and laid it down right there on the last turn. Five riders went down in the ensuing carnage, including Willoughby. The pileup punched transfer tickets for Meyers and Bloomfield who dodged the downers. So, with Willers, Meyers and Bloomfield home and going to the semi, the fourth transfer spot was open to whomever could get themselves together in time to claim it. Willoughby ran squarely into David as he went down, but shook it off quick enough to get up, and move on in (on two wheels, not on foot).

ELITE MEN FINISHES
Maris Strombergs -LAT
Marc Willers – NZL
Connor Fields – USA
Sam Willoughby – AUS
Ramiro Marino – ARG
Josh Meyers – USA
Brian Kirkham – AUS
Liam Phillips -GBR

On the ladies side, the 2010 overall title had been sewn up with a string of top-step finishes by Frances Laetitia le Corguillé. Putting the gold-star perfect on the season was not to be for her this year, however, when she suffered a broken finger in a crash during time trials on Friday and was unable to race.

With the dominant force of the 2010 womens class in the stands, and not on the gate, it would free up the top step for another top contender. Kiwi cutie Sarah Walker became an early favorite when she won the time trials. But Mariana Pajon was hoping for an early birthday present (#19 is tomorrow, 10/10/10, along with 21 for Joey Bradford) in Frejus, and was riding exceptionally well through the motos, with a 1-1-1. Arielle Martin looked like she had some fire too, with an aggro lap in the semis which took her from back of the back to second by the stripe.

But this day, it was Sarah Walker with the famous five aces (as seen on the starting hill). She won every gate drop of the big show, including the biggest one of them all. Lauren Reynolds, who came from way out in gate 7 got there for the second, and Mariana scooted in for the third. There was a brief moment, in the last straight where Alise Post slid into podium position. But Pajon put the ponies down and pulled the bronze back into Columbian hands.

ELITE WOMEN FINISHES:
Sarah Walker – NZL
Lauren Reynolds – AUS
Mariana Pajon – COL
Alise Post -USA
Arielle Martin -USA
Joyce Seesing – NDL
Rachel Bracken – AUS
Amanda Carr – USA

The fact that no French riders were in either main event, on their home turf, was certainly not lost on the crowd, nor those watching from home, via Freecaster.

Great job to Pete Dylewski on Freecaster today (all season, really, but today in particular). Pete was joined by Shanaze Reade for the first part of the show, then “Afro Bob” DeWilde came in for the color in part two. The names must be the toughest part of the job, no doubt. You’ve got Daudet, Godet, le Corguillé, Teullet, Horakova, Hladakova, Labounkova…toss in “Marino Marino” and you’ve got a spicy alphabet soup that is too hot to handle. But that, and Pete’s insider commentary make it a great show, and we’re very grateful to their team for bringing it to us who can’t be there live. Well done!

Keep an eye out for more from Frejus as BMX NEWS team coverage continues later today with commentary and photos from Carl Lein, on location in France.

Over the weekend, Facebook pages started foretelling who was heading out to hop the Atlantic. And on Sunday, the official start lists were released.

Download the Start Lists Now:
Elite Men
Elite Women
Summary of Countries

A couple names absent from the list include Manuel Devecchi from Italy, and Merle Van Benthem from the Netherlands, both still recovering from injuries suffered at the Chula Vista SX last month. The USA is fielding an unusually large contingent for an off-shore race, with 11 men and six women. Chula Vista podium topper, Nic Long is on the trip, as is SX rookie, Jordan Miranda breaking out his passport for the first time to hit the SX start ramp. A couple of the non-regulars on the trip include Alex Anthony, Riley Stair and Weston Pope. Among the ladies, it is the regular squad of Carr, Crain, Geving, Martin and Post–with Dom Daniels also on the list.

A total of 199 Men and 44 Women from 27 countries will do battle in the time trials, come Friday night (it is anticipated that there might be a couple last-minute additions before the first gate drops).

BMXNEWS Euro Correspondent, Carl Lein, will be on-site with story and photos from Frejus. Be sure to keep it right here on BMXNEWS for as-they-happen details, and follow “BMXNOW” on Twitter.

This Just in – The start list for the Chula Vista, CA stop on the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup tour has been released.

Great to see all the 1994 names on the roster. In all, 169 athletes will compete from 21 countries. In the SX format, Juniors and Elites are combined, so you could see top ABA experts like Nate Padilla and Nick Koehler gated up with megawatt stars like Maris Strombergs and current UCI points leader, Sam WIlloughby (providing they make it out of Friday’s Time Trials).

Of the 32 Elite Women, the USA will start 16 riders, among them, newcomers Carly Dyar, Dani George and Shelby Stacy.

BMXNEWS will be in Chula Vista beginning Thursday to report all the as-they-happen details from the US Olympic Training Center (including the ABA National running along side the “big show” on Saturday afternoon and Sunday, and the National BMX Hall Of Fame induction ceremony on Thursday Night). Be sure you stay with News, and follow BMXNOW on Twitter.

Download the Chula Vista Start Lists

Elite Men

Elite Women

Country Totals

Download the Copenhagen Web Zine Now.

VintageBMX Member Mattias Ankrah posted his gallery of photos from Saturday’s race, and we know you’ll be stoked to see them.

View Mattias’ Gallery Now

ELITE WOMEN
First	Last	Country	Gate	Time
Laetitia	Le Corguillé	FRA	2	39.463
Sarah	Walker	NZL	1	39.613
Aneta	Hladakova	CZE	3	39.815
Nicole	Callisto	AUS	8	40.347
Rachel	Bracken	AUS	7	40.426
Caroline	Buchanan	AUS	4	40.763
Mariana	Pajon	COL	5	42.814
Arielle	Martin	USA	6
ELITE MEN
First	Last	Country	Gate	Time
Maris	Strombergs	LAT	1	34.196
Liam	Phillips	GBR	4	34.52
Corben	Sharrah	USA	2	34.66
Marc	Willers	NZL	6	35.842
Connor	Fields	USA	3	35.85
Damien	Godet	FRA	8	36.551
Andres	Jimenez	COL	7	36.634
Thomas	Hamon	FRA	5	37.217

See a replay of the Copenhagen Supercross on Sunday, May 9 at freecaster.tv

This Update Sponsored By

Just in from Copenhagen, Maris Strombergs and Sarah Walker top the time trials for tomorrow’s second 2010 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup stop. Maris made the lap in 35.298 seconds, and Sarah in 39.798.

Top eight in the Time Trials went:

Also qualifying in the USA Contingent was Barry Nobles in 12th, David Herman and Kyle Bennett qualified 30th and 31st, respectively, Corben Sharrah in 33rd, Tyler Brown in 39th, Nic Long in 44th, Jason Rogers in 45th, and Josh Meyers in 51st. All of the Team USA women qualified among a field of 35 starters. Of those not listed in the top eight, Arielle Martin and Alise Post qualified in 10th and 11th, respectively, Brooke Crain in 16th and Ashley Verhagen in 24th.

Of the Team USA men, Denzel Stein (with a DNF in his first run) and Jason LaRev (in his first world cup appearance) did not make it out of the qualifying rounds. You’ll get ‘em next time guys, on home turf in Chula Vista (if not at the Worlds in July).

Stay with BMXNEWS.COM throughout the weekend for reports on the Copenhagen Supercross, and photos from our European Correspondent, Carl Lein.

Download The Official Time Trials Results
Mens Time Trials
Womens Time Trials

Earlier this month, the International Olympic Committee made a decision which has the effect of an atom bomb on accumulated qualifying points for all Olympic sports, including BMX Racing. The following is text from a letter which was sent by the UCI to members:

We would like to inform you about recent developments in relation with the qualification systems for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

In this regard, the IOC expressly refused, as a matter of principle, any kind of qualification system based on a period longer than 2 years, despite several meetings and discussions. The UCI regrets the IOC decision because as you know a longer qualification system would better suit the UCI calendars and the development of the disciplines.

Therefore, the MTB and BMX qualification systems for the 2012 Olympics have been modified accordingly, given that they were previously based on a period of more than 2 years. You will find hereunder the main modifications to the qualification systems which suit the IOC criterion. The detailed qualification system will be published on the UCI website upon final approval by the IOC Executive Committee.

BMX:
The rankings by nation are determined by the position of the three best male and three female riders from each nation in the UCI BMX ranking for the period from 06/05/10 (May 06, 2010) to 28/05/12 (May 28, 2012) for Category 1: World Championships; Category 2: UCI BMX Supercross World Cup. And for the period 01/08/10 (August 1, 2010) to 28/05/12 (May 28, 2012) the remaining events on the calendar (Category 3: continental championships; Category 4: International Classic events; Category 5: International events; and Category 6: national championships).

We are fully aware of the inconveniences related to this IOC decision and once again we regret this situation.

Most shocking is that this ruling is effective immediately, and is retroactive, thus wiping out Olympic qualifying points accrued to date. Prior to this ruling, Olympic points started to accumulate for BMX racing as of the Pietermaritzburg, South Africa World Cup event in October, 2009. Thus points from all Supercross World Cup races, and events such as the ABA/UCI series here in North America, are nullified from a 2012 qualifying points perspective.

BMX News is working to get additional information on this story, and will post an update to this Breaking News bulletin when we have the facts in place.

BMXNEWS Contributor Carl Lein filed a gallery of images from last week’s Madrid SX.

View the gallery now

The track design for the upcoming Madrid UCI Supercross race was posted on Vintage this morning (thanks to Carl Lein). The race is March 26-27 and features a 1000-foot track with a treacherous-looking “on & off” obstacle in the second straight. Design is the handiwork of UCI dirt dealer, and capitán of the Cat’, Mr. Tom Ritz.

You goin’? Priceline has the whole trip (from ORD) Departing Wednesday, March 24 and returning Monday, March 29, at a four-star hotel for only $1217!

Support BMXNEWS—Book your priceline trip using the link below:
Save up to $325 on your Vacation Package at priceline!