​As COVID-19 continues to alter how Australian Cycling Team athletes train and prepare for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Cycling Australia (CA) has committed to a new BMX Freestyle Indoor Training Facility in Australia. 
 
Earlier in 2020, COVID-19 restrictions forced the closure of two of Queensland’s indoor skate parks, which also formed part of the daily training environment base for the Australian Cycling Team’s BMX Freestyle athletes.
 
With the athletes left with no facility at which to train, Australian Cycling Team staff and athletes held discussions to determine how to best support Tokyo 2020 preparations. 
 
Australia’s reigning world champion in Brandon Loupos, 2017 world champion Logan Martin, and women’s world number six in Natalya Diehm put their support behind a facility proposal.
 
In August, access to a warehouse on the Gold Coast was secured and in September, several team staff and athletes set to work with lead park builder Jason Watts from Universal Ramps on building the indoor training facility. 
 
The facility includes ramps, walls, transitions and quarter pipes up to ten feet, with protective matting and foam pits in both directions allowing riders to advance and develop new tricks in a safe environment.

​
Australian Cycling Team BMX Technical Director Wade Bootes is ecstatic that Australia’s athletes now have access to a world-class facility with leading nations such as Japan, Russia, USA and France already boasting Freestyle training centres. 
 
“Our training facility is a learning centre to create an environment to support the athletes in a safe and controlled way as they prepare for the Tokyo Games in 2021,” said Bootes. “The park layout was designed to also enhance the riders conditioning with continued eccentric and concentric movement patterns due to the pumping action back to back.  
 
“The ramps were designed to cater towards various lines between left and right at competition size and transitions to mimic international courses. 
 
“Having the Freestyle Australian Cycling Team all now living on the Gold Coast with the support of Cycling Australia, this facility will make for some banger sessions for their progression.”

The #AusCyclingTeam’s ‘30 from 30 Series’ featured current and former Australian Cycling Team athletes, coaches and staff showing us the different, creative and unique ways they are keeping healthy and active both physically and mentally, and staying connected while in isolation or lockdown across Australia and the world.  

Reigning world champion Brandon Loupos grabbed dual wins at the weekend in the Beenleigh Freestyle International C1 event on January 18-19.

Loupos soared to the wins on the newly built City of Logan’s $3.1million Doug Larsen Park BMX which was hosting its first event.

QUOTES

Darren Hicks
Just this last weekend, we saw seven world records broken,so  you don’t just win one race and that’s a good year, you need to keep winning. I won three of the four World Cups on the road, two world championships and three national championships, and that’s barely enough. We have such a strong para squad and it’s a pleasure to be a part of it. It’s amazing to get this award.  
 
Paige Greco 
I’ve had a really awesome year, and it means a lot. Every time I look at it reminds me of an awesome year and it’s my first year on the team. I’ve been working really hard, and it’s been really good to see the results. It’s been an amazing year and I still can’t believe where I have been with my teammates!

Alistair Donohoe
This award highlights the fact I had to win three world championships just to get the award. David Nicholas was in there and he didn’t get an award. We’ve got some serious depth so it’s kind of exciting. I am stoked [with where I’m at], it just feels amazing to be back where I think I should be, after some ill health in 2017, I am really building back up in 2019. 

I personally think this award personally means a lot to me tonight. 

Carol Cooke
We have such a strong group of para-cyclists and that many world champions on this team. That being singled out for this [award] is very special, especially at this age and you know I hope that by showing people that it doesn’t matter what number it is that’s attached to your age and that if you love doing something that you can just keep doing it and reap the benefits of it. I think that this year has probably been the best year I’ve ever had because I didn’t put the pressure on myself that I had to be on the top step it was about enjoying it, it was about having fun and I probably had the most fun that I’ve ever had in a year of racing. 

Brandon Loupos
I don’t think it could have been better. It was cool. I can’t wait for 2020. I did so much learning in 2019 and it’s all about keeping that consistency in 2020 and to go or the gold in Tokyo. Logan won it (this award) two years in a row and I am stoked to come away with the win this year, it’s definitely an honour and to be the elite BMX cyclist of the year is pretty special. There’s a lot of world champions who don’t get to win this award and I’m blessed to not only win a world championship but to also win this award. 
 
Saya Sakakibara
It was a challenging but fulfilling season. Compared to last year I didn’t produce the results; I had a lot of mental challenges and having six crashes in four months it was definitely really tough to line up on the gate with other riders. But with the worlds I thought my performance was really good, I didn’t get the results I wanted but it adds fuel to the fire and makes me a lot hungrier. I finished off the season with a win at the Olympic test event and is such a great confidence booster. 
 
Amanda Spratt
It’s been a really great year and I am really proud to get this award tonight it caps it off, I think it’s been my best year to date. Maybe I didn’t get the same results on paper as what I got last year but I am really, really proud to finish off with a bronze medal after a great team performance also. It’s amazing, I love coming to this event every year, you get so much motivation out of it. You see the videos of what people have done and hear some stories you maybe didn’t know about some people and it’s just a feeling of motivation and excitement. I always walk out of here, ready to bust into training the next day!
 
Ashlee Ankudinoff
It’s pretty humbling, to be honest. I’ve been in this sport for ten years now and it’s been a long time coming. I’ve had a successful career and now I am getting towards the end so it’s really nice to come here and celebrate the success, not just the success of myself but of others. I definitely think I am in the form of my life. I have a great support network back in Adelaide and the environment there is unbelievable. I have trust in the process in what we’re doing. I go to training every day knowing that I have the support from everyone from the Cycling Australia staff.  Olympic gold is why I am still riding. I definitely would not be riding if I had ticked all my goals off and the Olympic gold is definitely one, and hopefully next August I can do that.

Sam Welsford
It’s been a ripper year. I never thought I’d be able to go dual world champion in one year, so I’m just really over the moon. I love coming to the Awards, it’s such a special night, to see Australia’s best come through to all celebrate the year we’ve had. I get really gee’d up when I see the year’s recap video, it makes you really forget about the Awards itself and makes you realise how special it is to ride for Australia.  
 
(On Tim Decker receiving Coach of the Year Award) Tim holds a special place in my heart he’s been my coach for a long time, starting in 2015 when I first moved to Adelaide, Tim backed me a said “look mate, if you want to be apart of this you’ve got to put the work in” so, I trusted him from then on. Really happy for him to get that award and I know that he holds the award itself very close to him. He strives and works really hard for that I think this is just a testament to what he puts in. ​

Australia's Freestyle BMX stars will continue their chase toward the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Rampfest Indoor Skate Park in Melbourne's inner west when it hosts the inaugural Oceania Freestyle BMX Championships from December 7-8. 

The weekend will include two Pro/Elite Competitions - the Oceania Championships and the Rampfest International C1.  Plus, amateur and junior competition classes for young riders to compete alongside the Pro’s.

Sydney's Brandon Loupos, who was crowned 2019 world champion earlier this month in China, will be in action along with 2017 world champion Logan Martin of the Gold Coast. 

“Winning the World Championships was a dream come true - it’s taken a bit to sink in, but I’m so grateful to everyone who helped me achieve this.  And now, I can’t wait to come down to Melbourne and ride in front of a home crowd again," said Loupos, who is also the reigning Australian National Champion having won the inaugural title at Rampfest in November 2018. 

The women's field will be headlined by Queensland's Natalya Diehm who launched into contention for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after a stunning World Championship debut for Australia to finish sixth.

With Freestyle BMX included in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games for the first time, the Oceania Championships will be a key opportunity for top Australian athletes to earn critical qualification points for the games. 

Australia currently sits in second in the Olympic Points Rankings to the USA, with the top nation at the end of the qualification period (in May 2020) securing two athlete positions in the competition for Tokyo 2020.   

An incredible two days of competition is expected at Rampfest which will be open from 9am each day for anyone to come down and watch the action.

Entry for spectators is FREE.

Riders can enter the contest via the event website.

Details

• Event Date:  7-8 December 2019
• Location:  Rampfest Indoor Skate Park, 47-85 Hillary St, Braybrook VIC 3019
• Event Website:  rampfest.com.au

Brandon Loupos claimed the rainbow jersey, Logan Martin took silver, while Natalya Diehm moved Australia a step closer to Olympic qualification, in a dominant display by Australia in the BMX Freestyle finals at the 2019 Urban Cycling World Championships in China on Sunday. 

"It (rainbow jersey) has been my phone background for 365 days, now it is on my chest, I can't believe it. I am absolutely speechless," said Loupos, the 2018 World Championship bronze medallist. 

"It just shows you dreams can come true if you put your mind and heart to it and you just go for it."

Loupos, 26, began Sunday's final in unfortunate circumstances, crashing on a backflip attempt in his first run. However, in a stunning second run, Loupos shot to the top of the leaderboard with a double backflip, flair whip, a 1080, a 720 into a double whip transfer and cash roll, before ending with a five flair scoring 93.20 points. 

"I can't believe what is going on right now, especially after crashing in my first run. I was thinking about whether I should change my run or stay consistent for my second run," Loupos said. "But I said stick to the plan, went out there and just charged. 

"I put everything into God's hands, I asked the Lord to give me the strength to get through the second run. Thank you to the man above watching over me, not for giving me the world title, but for allowing me to finish my run fit and healthy and be able to ride again tomorrow."

'sSydney's Loupos opened the 2019 season in stunning style by recording the highest score ever recorded at a World Cup at the first round in Japan in April. In September, he claimed gold at the inaugural Urban Games in Hungary. 

"I couldn't be happier. So stoked to be standing here right now, stoked to be Australian and representing Australia," said Loupos, who is targeting a spot on the Australian team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games where the discipline will make its Olympic debut.
 
"My goal is to represent my country, I feel just being there (Tokyo) would be winning, but I want to go there and not just get a medal, but win a gold medal for my country."

2017 world champion Logan Martin scored 92.90 in a clean first run to sit just behind his teammate in second. But Queensland's Martin was felled by a flat tyre in his second run, the final run of the day, which sealed the world title for Loupos. 

"I was feeling good all weekend, and during practice today I also got a flat so I had to regain my composure, get my wheel fixed and back into the zone and do the run I had planned,"said Martin, 25, the dual 2019 X Games gold medallist who also finished the 2019 FISE World Series in second overall. "I did that and it got me into second place, but in my second run, I, unfortunately, got another flat.  

"But congratulations to Brandon, it was a great result for Australia."

Queensland's Natalya Diehm, 22, launched Australia into contention for the women's competition at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after a stunning World Championship debut for Australia.

Diehm, finished sixth in the BMX Park Final to move Australia closer to securing a position at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

"My first run didn't go as planned, but I did my best in my second run, even though I was trying to play it safe," Diehm, who took out the 2019 Vans BMX Pro-Skate Park Series in her first international season.

Only nine women will get to contest the Freestyle competition in Tokyo, which will be comprised of two riders from the top-ranked nation, one rider from each nation ranked second to fifth, and one rider from host nation Japan. The final two spots will go to the next two best countries outside the top five at the end of qualifying in May.

"I am super happy for myself, and everyone here, and I hope this means we get a spot at the Tokyo Olympics," added Diehm.

​Martin, Loupos and Diehm will head back to Australia where they will contest the Oceania Championships in Melbourne followed by the 2019 Cycling Australia National Championships in Brisbane this December.

Australia's Logan Martin celebrated dual gold at the 2019 Summer X Games in Minneapolis.

Gold Coast's Martin grabbed his first victory over Japan's Rim Nakamura and Jose Torres of Argentina on Friday, before doubling up in the BMX dirt event with a huge 94.66 score on the last of his three runs.

Martin overhauled fellow Aussie Brandon Loupos, who had posted 92.00 points on his first run.

Men's BMX Park
Gold: Logan Martin
Silver: Rim Nakamura
Bronze: Jose Torre

BMX Dirt
Gold: Logan Martin (94.66)
Silver: Brandon Loupos (92.00)
Bronze: Dawid Godziek (90.66)

Roaring into the finals with the best semi final score, a bout of food poisoning the morning of the finals halted the Logan Martin run at the top spot at the second round of the BMX Freestyle World Cup competition in Montpellier. 

19-year-old American Justin Dowdell (91.20 points) took the win, Martin scoring 89.6 points on his first final run, before calling off his second early.  It was the second straight bronze for the Gold Coast cyclist who now leads the World Cup rankings after two rounds. 

​"Qualified first going into finals, got a bit of food poisoning the morning of finals but came pretty good come time to ride, just lacked a bit of energy," Martin told his fans via social media. "Ended up taking third place which also means I’m sitting in first overall leading into China so I’m pumped on!!

"Can’t really complain with third but definitely felt better on my bike the previous few days! I had a lot more to do but couldn’t make it happen this time around, looking forward to the last stop in China later in the year!"

Brandon Loupos, who took the gold in the World Cup's opening round in Japan in May, landed heavily on the second jump of his first final run which ended his run, before pulling off a series of spectacular tricks including a double back flip in his second run to score 72.40 points which placed him ninth.

The third round of the 2019 BMX Freestyle World Cup will be held in China in November, just ahead of the World Championships also in China. 

Sydney's Brandon Loupos has opened the 2019 UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup season with victory in round one, with many hailing his winning run as the best ever seen at a BMX Freestyle Park event.

After crashing in his first final run in Hiroshima, Loupos fired in an insane second run which included a 1080, a double backflip, a 900 and a Cash Roll to score 95.80 points, the highest score ever recorded at a World Cup event. 

"My score feels amazing and I couldn't be more blessed to get a score like that especially after crashing on the first run and giving the second run all I had, nothing feels better," Loupos said. 

"It is pretty crazy to have people come up to me and say 'it's the best run of all time' because to me it's just important to land my planned run and to inspire others. My main goal is to honor Dave Mirra, the greatest of all time, and when people say that was the best run ever, it makes me think I'm considered to be worthy of Dave Mirra."

The win matched Loupos' efforts in the same round of the 2018 World Cup last April. 

"It feels unreal. I'm in the same position as last year, but this year since I've already had more experience and more times staying at number 1, I definitely plan to keep it," added Loupos, the 2018 World Championship bronze medallist. "I have the maturity and experience now to work hard at home to maintain the number 1 position throughout year."

2017 world champion Logan Martin claimed third with 91.10 points on his first run which included a 4 tail whip combo, and a 540 flair right on the buzzer.

Australian Cycling Team athletes Logan Martin and Brandon Loupos are primed ahead of the start of the 2019 UCI World Cup season which gets underway in Japan on April 19.

An epic 2019 World Cup season includes stops in Japan, France and China, sandwiching a host of international C1 events including the lucrative X Games, before wrapping up with the World Championships in November.

Sydney's Loupos is looking to replicate his 2018 form which saw him bookend the year with career-best performances including gold in Japan's opening World Cup round before storming to bronze at the World Championships in November.

"2018 was definitely a great year for me and my best year so far in my BMX career," said Loupos who in unfortunate circumstances suffered a bike mechanical in round two and had his bike stolen just three hours before the final in round three. "But I'm looking forward to what the rest of 2019 has in store since I started the year off with three wins and keeping that momentum rolling will be key for 2019.

"My goal is obviously to win as that's what we're all there to do! It would be really cool to go back to Hiroshima, back up my win from last year and obviously start the World Cup series off strong!"

2017 world champion Martin opened 2018 with a broken collarbone which forced him to miss the opening round of the season. He recovered in time to contest the Series' second round in May where he finished second, before storming to a third-round win in July and gold in the BMX Park Final at the X-Games in the USA later that month. unfortunately, Martin broke his ankle in October, which meant he was unable to defend his world title. 

"2018 was a roller coaster for sure, a few injuries throughout but also a few very high points in my career," said Gold Coast's Martin, who has no plans to play it safe in the adrenaline-filled discipline despite his run of injuries. 

"My 2019 goals are to achieve more of these big wins, however with fewer injuries. 

"But my goal is always to ride to the best of my ability at any event. Staying on my bike through my runs are always a large part of my focus but also not to play it too safe."

As the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games moves closer into view, Cycling Australia BMX Technical Director Wade Bootes is looking forward to another season.  

"While it is still a new discipline to UCI cycling, I am amazed by the work ethic shown by our Australian Cycling Team members, not only in their own development but the progression of the sport," Bootes said. "It is a pleasure working with such talented and committed athletes with a growth mindset towards performance."

2019 BMX Freestyle Season 

Three rounds will take place in April, May and October in Japan, France and China, before the 2019 Urban World Championships wrap up the season in China in November. 

• 19-21 April: Round 1 - Hiroshima, Japan
• 29 May - 2 June: Round 2 - Montpellier, France
• 31 Oct - 3 Nov: Round 3 - Chengdu, China
• 6 Nov - 10 Nov: Urban World Championships-  Chengdu, China

More at the UCI website.

BMX FREESTYLE

There were dual celebrations for Brandon Loupos who claimed two C1 events in Canada.

Sydney's Loupos won the Canadian Joyride150 event in Toronto, and with an international field in below freezing conditions, was grateful that the competition was indoors on an amazing skate park. Brandon followed this with a win on the Sunday at the Toronto X jam event.

Brandon currently resides in North Carolina USA as he prepares for the 2019 World Cup season which begins in Japan on April 19.

Logan Martin continues to sweat it up in during his Australian season, taking the win at Brisbane's Village Skate Park in his first contest back from injuring his ankle prior to the 2018 World Championships in November.  

Completing his rehab at his Australian base, Martin will begin a busy 2019 season in Costa Rica next weekend with for the X Knights competition / show.

With the Olympic debut of BMX Freestyle Park now less than 18 months away, Australia’s Logan Martin and Brandon Loupos have ramped up their preparations with a visit to the Australian Cycling Team Headquarters in Adelaide. 

Having delivered the BMX High-Performance Program within Australia over the last twelve years as recognised by the Australian Olympic Committee and the UCI, Cycling Australia recently introduced a number of changes within its 2020-24 High-Performance Strategy.  

In addition to solidifying the BMX Supercross program, a select number of BMX Freestyle Park athletes were identified as medal potentials and subsequently are now supported by individual scholarships. 

BMX Freestyle Park, which makes its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, is an adrenaline-fuelled mix of tricks and jumps taking place over a series of ramps and large obstacles within a 30mx50m park. Athletes complete two one-minute runs each, with judges scoring on difficulty, originality, style, flow, risk, height and execution of tricks.

Australia’s athletes have excelled in the format in recent years with Logan Martin, claiming the inaugural World Championships in 2017, while Brandon Loupos won World Championships bronze in 2018. The pair has medalled at numerous World Cup events over the past few seasons, while also standout performers on the lucrative X-Games circuit. 

Along with Australian Cycling Team BMX Technical Director Wade Bootes, Martin and Loupos visited the Australian Cycling Team training base in Adelaide to meet performance coaching, support and operational staff.

The visit included one on one meetings with Strength And Power Coach Scott Baker, Nutritionist Jill Leckey, and Team Doctor Mark Fisher. Martin and Loupos also swapped their BMX bikes for Argon track bikes for a track session with sprint world champion Matthew Glaetzer, while also working out in the gym with the men’s track endurance squad.

For Martin, the visit was a realisation of the high-quality resources and support network available to all Australian Cycling Team athletes.  

“It is super cool to catch up on knowledge and experience this place has to offer, we've certainly got all the resources we need to be at the top of our games,” said Martin.

“We have an exciting journey ahead over the next 16 months, and we will be keeping in contact to ensure I can stay at my peak performance.”

Loupos was equally taken back by the welcome into the program and the wider cycling Australian Cycling Team family. 

“This place speaks for itself, the gym and athletes are great, a great positive vibe,” echoed Loupos. “I was welcomed by all the great staff, meeting all the track guys was a cool experience.  

“As we move towards Tokyo, it is only going to get better and more positive and breed success.”

Australian Cycling Team BMX Technical Director Wade Bootes is excited about the difference the support network will have on the athletes as they fine-tune their Olympic preparations. 

“It is a great opportunity to have the freestyle guys here at the Australian Cycling Team training facility in Adelaide, to see the support network and different aspects that will make a difference to them in competition,” Bootes said. 

“We look forward to exploring different things, going deeper and focussing what each athlete needs going into Tokyo.”

NSW rider Brandon Loupos has won the Australian Freestyle Championship after an amazing second run that bettered the benchmark scores of  Queensland’s Jason Watts and Jake Wallwork.

A highly competitive field put on an awesome display for 300+ cheering fans in Melbourne’s inner-West at Rampfest 25 November, showcasing the incredible development and evolution in Australia of one of the most exciting disciplines in world cycling.

Leading into his final run, Loupos was sitting in second place behind Queensland Jason Watts. With just ten seconds to go in the final run, he pulled off a remarkable five flair to seal the deal.

When asked what it felt like to be the inaugural National Freestyle BMX champion, Brandon Loupos said, “It’s crazy, I can’t describe it, to be the first national champion in Australia is a lot in itself, I’m blessed to ride for Australia… I feel great, I’m stoked I can’t wait to show it off back in the Shire... a Shire boy made it!”

Also winning Saturday’s UCI Category 1 event he added, “It feels unreal to go back to back today and win two from two.”

After crashing heavily in the first run in the finals, Victorian Jake Wallwork pulled it together in the second to win a hard-fought bronze “It feels really good after crashing and not doing too well yesterday [in Saturday’s C1 event]… I was just hoping it was going to be alright, I was just hurting the whole time, but it came off alright”

Chair of Cycling Australia, Duncan Murray was excited by the event, “I really enjoyed my day at Rampfest seeing Australia’s best compete in front of an enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowd. It was an honour to hand out the champion jersey and I congratulate the organisers and competitors alike for a terrific show. Beyond this new Australian title, we know Freestyle is set to debut at the Olympics in 2020 and I look forward to seeing what develops in this exciting and dynamic discipline of the sport.”

Rampfest General Manager, Chris Bierton said “To be able to showcase the talent from the riders on a national stage is really something. It’s great to see Cycling Australia and the City of Maribyrnong get behind the sport, and with an awesome display from all riders give it 100% this weekend. I’m looking forward to this event coming back bigger and better 2019!”

City of Maribyrnong Mayor, Cr. Martin Zakharov was there welcome the inaugural BMX Freestyle National Championships to the venue.

“It’s really exciting stuff, I can see that this is a growing sport with a lot of future, and it’s more than just a sport. There is a lot of individual skill that goes into it and a lot of imagination from the participants so for us [City of Maribyrnong] to be supporting something like this is exciting and I’m really hoping that we can do more to get behind it in the future and I am hoping to see it grow in future across Australia.”

The amateur BMX Freestyle national championship was won by 15-year-old Josh Dove with Shayne McAuley & Matteo Illic rounding out the podium.

The junior events were contested in the morning and won by William Fraser & Anastasia Taleski.

RESULTS

Junior Female
LIVE STREAM
1. Anastasia Taleski (VIC)
2. Rilee Quick (VIC)

Junior male

LIVE STREAM
1. William Fraser
2. Jonathan Valenta
3. Jaxon Philip

Amateur Male

LIVE STREAM
1. Josh Dove (QLD)
2. Shayne McAuley
3. Matteo Illic

Professional male

LIVE STREAM
1. Brandon Lopous (NSW)
2. Jason Watts (QLD)
3. Jake Wallwork (VIC)

Presented with thanks to: 

Rampfest, Maribyrnong City Council, Fist Handwear, Vans, Skullcandy, Lux BMX, Village BMX, Hell On Wheels BMX, Backbone BMX, Strictly BMX, Anchor BMX, Little Black Bike, Local BMX

The second edition of the UCI Urban Cycling World Championships gets under way in Chengdu, China, this week (November 7-11).

Look out for the Aussies in action - Brandon Loupos, Jake Wallwork, Caroline Buchanan and Kyle Baldock!

Sydney's Loupos celebrated victory in the opening round of the UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Cup, while Melbourne's Wallwork claimed the win in the Series' final round last weekend.

Gold Coast’s Baldock took silver last month at the Sydney X-Games, while Australia’s Queen of BMX Buchanan was been selected following her ninth place at the Freestyle World Cup in China on the weekend.

The Gold Coast’s reigning world champion Logan Martin, who claimed the first-ever rainbow jersey on offer in the discipline in 2017, was forced to withdraw after injuring his ankle during training in October. 

Catch Sunday's Finals live via the UCI BMX Freestyle Facebook page or via UCI Youtube channel.

Visit the official 2018 Urban Worlds website at www.urbanworlds.cn