A first time experience, Canada will host the Championship event of the 2012 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup on September 14 and 15. The Supercross World Cup finals will bring 60 of the fastest men and women in the sport of BMX together to race in Abbotsford, British Columbia. Abbotsford BMX, located about 90 minutes from Vancouver City, was chosen to host the event after a successful bid.
Cycling BC broke the news on February 9. The World Cup series offers a total purse of $150 000 and is promoted by Global SX Events of Gahanna, Ohio, USA. GSX Events has played a major part in developing the BMX Supercross World Cup series.
B2ten, a private sector initiative, along with Cycling British Columbia, helped Abbotsford BMX to create an international calibre BMX race tack on Canada's west coast and then secure the bid to host the Supercross race. The first BMX track of it's kind in Canada, the track in Abbotsford features an Olympic-grade starting hill and obstacles.
Supercross BMX racing began to see world-wide popularity after the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Since then, Supercross racing has been seen by millions of viewers on television and on-line around the world.
Abbotsford BMX and their Supercross track is currently the training home of Canada's national BMX racing team led by head coach Adam Muys.
In the 2011 Supercross World Cup series, British Columbia product and Team Canada member Tory Nyhaug finished in fifth place overall. His best finish during the World Cup series was 4th in Papendal, Netherlands back in 2011. Nyhaug also placed in the top three in a number of the World Cup time trial events which narrows the field to the top 64 riders who then progress to the elimination rounds. Nyhaug is currently Canada's strongest Olympic medal hopeful to compete at the 2012 Summer Games in London later this year.
The UCI Supercross World Cup finals will be the first international event following the Olympic Games in London. The Bicycle BC press release mentioned the race is sure to generate great interest in the media and within the BMX racing community as Abbotsford becomes the temporary home of many Olympians during the World Championship weekend.
The last BMX event featuring international competition held in Canada was also in British Columbia. Victoria was home to the 2007 UCI World Championship where racers from five to sixty-five years old, including both amateurs and professionals, competed for top spot in the world in various BMX racing age group categories.
San Diego, USA March 30-31
Sandess, Norway April 13-14
Papendal, Netherlands May 12-13
Abbotsford, Canada September 14-15
Sandess, Norway April 13-14
Papendal, Netherlands May 12-13
Abbotsford, Canada September 14-15
Comments