Rio Olympian Anthony Dean grabbed a podium appearance at the sixth round of the 2018 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup podium in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.
 
After falling from his bike during Saturday's quarter-finals of round five, Dean redeemed himself magnificently with third place in the finals behind World Cup leader and double weekend winner, Nick Kinmann and Joris Daudet.
 
Returning from injury surrounding muscle damage in his quad, Dean has been working tirelessly in his San Diego home and he is pleased to see that his plans with his coach Wade Bootes is paying off.

“Anthony’s performance today was on task, he had clear intent and delivered to the plan,” Bootes said.

“Anthony has demonstrated today that he is on track and will continue to work hard and focus on the key elements to be the best rider for the 2018 World Championships in Baku.”

Joining Dean in the men’s final was fellow Australian Cycling Team member Kai Sakakibara who finished in fourth in a heavily contested race.  Sakakibara now sits eighth on the overall standings while Dean has moved into 14th.

With two weekends of back-to-back world cup racing over, the Australian team now set their sights on the 2018 UCI BMX World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan on June 5-9. The biggest event on the international BMX calendar this year will have all riders battling it out for the top spot.

The conclusion of the World Cup series will make its final weekend stand at Santiago Del Estero, Argentina on September 29-30. The current standings for the men and women’s elite class are below

Reigning BMX Freestyle world champion Logan Martin will makes his comeback to racing this weekend at the second round of the FISE World Cup series in France.
 
Brisbane’s Martin missed the opening round in China following a training crash in March that broke his collar bone in four places and resulted in nine screws and a plate inserted into his shoulder.
 
“It was very unfortunate, but it was normal day of riding and part of the sport,” said Martin who was back on his bike just two weeks after surgery.
 
“It goes with my lifestyle, I live quite healthy, so that helped me get back on my bike a lot quicker.
 
“The crash came at a bad time, I missed a few events, including the first stop of the World Series, but I took it as it is, it is just an unforunate part of the sport.
 
“I am back to 100%, everything feels good, I feel good on my bike and I am ready to race. 
 
“I don’t doubt I can do well all year I feel as good as I have ever felt.”
 
It is also Martin’s first international race sinc being crowned the inaugural BMX Freestyle world champion at the 2017 UCI Urban World Championships
 
“To win the first ever rainbow jersey in freestyle was crazy and I still can’t believe it,” added Martin, who completed his final training camp in Mebourne in his rainbow jersey.
 
Martin is eyeing Olympic glory following the IOC's decision to add BMX Freestyle to the programme for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
 
Visit www.fise.fr or follow @FISE for all the World Cup updates form France.

The Australian Cycling Team finished the 2018 Ostend World Cup in style taking their overall tally to 12 medals.

The star-studded team worked hard in fresh Belgian conditions to put on a show for fans. Darren Hicks opened the account with an outstanding performance netting golds in the road race and time trial. Reigning world champion, Carol Cooke blew away the time trial field to win gold and in an exhilarating finish was edged out for second by the USA’s Jill Walsh.

Darren Hicks achieved back to back gold medals in the road race and time trial while teammates,  Stuart Tripp, Meg Lemon and Kyle Bridgwood also left Ostend with gold medals.
Over the four days of racing in Belgium, the Australian Cycling Team netted a total of five gold medals and three silver medals, four bronze Medals and six top 10 finishes.

Newcomers to the Aussie Cycling Team, Stu Jones & Kaitlyn Schurmann both worked hard for their silver medals in the road race. 
Stuart Tripp and Darren Hicks were also both awarded the World Cup leader’s jersey.

The team will now head home and into training for the 2018 Para-cycling World Championships as the athletes push towards selection for the 2018 Road World Championships, Maniago Italy 2 - 5 August.

Para-cycling World Cup Round 1 Results

• Darren Hicks C2  Gold TT, Gold RR​
• Carol Cooke T2  Gold TT, Silver RR
• Kyle Bridgwood C4  Gold TT
• Stu Tripp  H5 Gold RR,  Bronze TT
• Meg Lemon C4  Gold RR
• ​Stu Jones* T2  Silver RR
• ​Kaitlyn Schurmann* C1  Silver RR
• Hannah MacDougall C4  Bronze TT, Bronze RR
• Alistair Donohoe C5  Bronze RR

BMX Supercross World Cup Round 4 Results

• Saya Sakakibara, Bronze 

RESULTS

• BMX Supercross Results
• Para-cycling results​

For the third time in four 2018 UCI BMX Supercross World Cup rounds, Saya Sakakibara has found the podium with the NSW rider finished third at the fourth round of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup Series in Papendal, the Netherlands, this morning.
Only the might of reigning world champion Alise Willoughby and hometown hero Judy Baauw was enough to stop the 19-year old who is on her debut in the elite fields.
With two bronze medals and a silver to start the 2018 World Cup series, Sakakibara sits comfortably in second place on the overall standings 450 points with ladder leader Laura Smulders only 100 points in front.
“I came in today with the same sort of mindset from yesterday and that was just to have fun,” Sakakibara said. “In the final I was able to get into second place around the track and I kind of messed up the last straight which cost me, but I am really happy I finished third, it was an awesome weekend and I’ve learnt so much.”

Siblings Saya Sakakibara and Kai Sakakibara (NSW) and 2016 Olympic Games finalist Anthony Dean (SA) headline the Australian Cycling Team selections for the 2018 UCI BMX (Supercross) World Championships to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in June.

It has been a dream start to Saya Sakakibara’s maiden season in the elite ranks with dual podium appearances at the opening two rounds of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup Series, in addition to gold and silver at the European Cup.

“Being first year, I really had no expectations of my results and wasn’t sure how I would be riding, especially being thrown into the European and World Cup circuits,” explained Sakakibara, 18, who chose to focus on completing her final year of high school in 2017 rather than contest the international circuit.

“It was a big shock to be able to make it onto the podium in the first two rounds of the World Cup, and the podium in the European rounds as well.

“But my start to 2018 has built my confidence and I will definitely be taking this into Worlds. It has shown me I can be on the podium at every event,” added Sakakibara.

Like his sister Saya, Kai Sakakibara will be taking confidence into the World Championships following a solid off-season program at his Australian base and a full program of racing the World and European Cups which has netted a number of top ten finishes. 

Kai also boasts an added advantage after completing a reconnaissance trip to Baku last week with Saya, Anthony Dean and Australian Cycling Team BMX Technical Director Wade Bootes for a test run of the World Championship course.

“2018 has been pretty good for me so far, I have been working on my strength and making alterations to my bike set up. I’m definitely in the best shape I’ve ever been in,” said Sakakibara, who grabbed a podium finish in the opening round of the European Cup in March.

“I’m aiming for a podium result at Worlds, but ultimately my goals are to produce my best possible result on the day by executing my own routine.”

Saya and Kai will now set their sights on fine-tuning their World Championship preparations at the next two UCI World Cup rounds in the Netherlands and Belgium in May.

Joining Dean and Sakakibara in the men’s team is 2018 national champion Brandon Te Hiko (VIC), Max Cairns (VIC), Shane Rosa (SA) and Andrew Hughes (NSW).

​Two-time Olympian Lauren Reynolds (WA), reigning national champion Erin Lockwood (QLD), Sara Jones (QLD), and 2016 national champion Leanna Curtis (NSW) round out the elite women’s selections.

“We have selected a team that we believe has a mix of potential and performances,” said Simon Jones, Performance Director, Cycling Australia.  “We are confident that we have the talent to challenge for podium performances in all disciplines.

“We wish all the riders the very best in Baku.”

The junior selections feature 2018 national champions Nathaniel Rodway (NSW) and Ashlee Miller (NSW), and Queenslanders Izaac Kennedy, Kye Affoo, Kyle Hill and Edan Whitlock. 
Australia’s team will be joined in Baku by a further 89 “Challenge Class” riders who range from seven to 62 years of age. 

The 2018 UCI BMX World Championships take place from June 5-9 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Australian Team for 2018 UCI BMX World Championships
​

• Men: Anthony Dean (SA), Shane Rosa (SA), Kai Sakakibara (NSW), Andrew Hughes (NSW), Brandon Te Hiko (VIC), Max Cairns (VIC)
• Women: Lauren Reynolds (WA), Saya Sakakibara (NSW), Leanna Curtis (NSW), Erin Lockwood (QLD), Sara Jones (QLD)
• Junior men: Nathaniel Rodway (NSW), Izaac Kennedy (QLD), Kyle Hill (QLD), Kye Affoo (QLD)
• Junior women: Ashlee Miller (NSW), Edan Whitlock (QLD) 

For more information, visit the official Baku2018 website.