A Spectacular 2025 Début: UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup Ignites Montpellier

Jun 05, 2025

Written by Bart de Jong

Read 638 times

Where else but Montpellier—la ville fidèle to the spirit of urban sports—to host the opening round of the 2025 UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup? Since 1997, this Mediterranean gem has welcomed no fewer than 28 major urban sports festivals, and this year was no exception. As part of the emblematic Festival des Sports Extrêmes (FISE), the city once again came alive, offering a thrilling stage for the Park, Street, Spine Mini and Flatland disciplines. Over the course of a week, an estimated 300,000 spectators were treated to a veritable spectacle of talent, adrenaline, and sheer artistry on two wheels.

BMX Park Men: La crème de la crème under the sun

To ensure fair and ample practice time for all, the Men’s Park event imposed a cut at 72 riders—a practical choice, and a nod to the professionalism that defines this sport at its highest level. After the pause following December’s UCI Urban Cycling World Championships in Abu Dhabi, riders returned revitalized, their arsenals of tricks freshly sharpened and ready to be unveiled on this prestigious stage.

The gods of weather smiled upon Montpellier. Despite the heat—intense, almost Provençal in its brilliance—the skies stayed dry, and support crews came prepared à la française, armed with coolers, baguettes, sunglasses, and parasols.

Through qualification, the pool was narrowed to 24 in the semi final, then further distilled to a dozen elite finalists. And what a privilege it was: to ride before perhaps the most passionate and electric crowd in the world of BMX. The atmosphere? In one word—incroyable. The energy in the air was nearly tangible, fuelling performances that pushed physical and creative limits.

It was a strong showing from the Anglo-American contingent (USA-GBR), each nation placing four riders in the final twelve. A subtle strategic shift added intrigue—former British Cycling coach Jamie Bestwick now stood behind the American squad, and already his influence was bearing fruit. Not to be outdone, Team GB welcomed Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Declan Brooks as a coach, bringing both experience and firepower to the mix.

The final lineup was a veritable who’s who of BMX: Olympic gold medalist Jose Torres Gil (ARG), former UCI world champion Rimu Nakamura (JPN), Australia’s decorated Logan Martin, and, of course, the local hero Anthony Jeanjean (FRA), who rode with the weight—and passion—of a nation on his shoulders.

The bar was set early by Britain’s Dylan Hessey in Final heat one, breaking into the 90s with a phenomenal run that began with a backflip triple barspin on the step-down spine and followed with a 360-triple tailwhip. He wasn’t done: a 540 flair, 720 barspin, backflip barspin tailwhip, and a pristine double flair—all executed with finesse—launched him to the top of the leaderboard.

But as is often the case in Montpellier, the story was not yet written. Anthony Jeanjean, visibly lifted by the crowd’s fervor, laid down a run bursting with originality—his signature lines included double tailwhip transfers and flamboyant superman Indian airs over the FISE sign that dazzled from one transfer to the next. His reward? The lead—temporarily.

Enter Marcus Christopher (USA), the highest qualifier. What followed was an explosion of commitment and control. Riding as if possessed, he unleashed an Indian Air backflip, a 360 quad downside whip, a barspin-tailwhip backflip over the big box, and an audacious double tailwhip transfer into a towering 4-meter quarter. The cherry on top? A show-stopping double backflip to close. The judges delivered their verdict: a score surpassing even Jeanjean’s. The crowd, though partisan, applauded warmly—bravo Marcus Christopher.

BMX Park Women: Sun Sibei shines once again

After a rain-soaked triumph at the UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Cup in Shanghai at the end of 2024, China’s Sun Sibei arrived in Montpellier with her trademark calm—and left with another victory. Her run was a textbook blend of power and elegance: truckdrivers, 360s, cancans, flairs, no-handers, backflips, X-ups. And all under a brilliant French sun.

China fielded a formidable delegation, but global competition is rising. Japan’s Miharu Ozawa, young yet composed, clinched second place, while six-time world champion Hannah Roberts (USA) completed the podium in third. Olympic champion Yawen Deng (CHN) took fourth, Germany’s Kim Lea Müller came in fifth, and Colombia’s Queen Villegas Serna rounded out the top six—proof that the Women’s Park category is now a truly international affair.

Flatland Women: Japanese excellence on full display

In an historic first for the Women’s Flatland category, a full eight-rider final was held—testament to the discipline’s rapid growth. The Japanese riders, however, reaffirmed their dominance with a sweep of the top five spots.

While 2024 world champion Ayuna Miyashima finished fifth, the day belonged to Yui Kiyomune, who delivered a poised and powerful performance to claim victory. Sona Yoshimura earned silver, and Nina Suzuki completed the podium with bronze—each greeted with enthusiasm by a crowd that appreciated both skill and style.

Flatland Men: French pride to close the show

As the sun dipped behind the Hérault skyline and the official ceremony concluded, one final contest remained—the Men’s Flatland. Once more, the esplanade swelled with fans, eager to see the final showdown.

Yu Shoji (JPN) emerged victorious, with compatriot Yu Katagiri close behind. But the loudest cheers of the night? They were for Julien Baran (FRA), whose brilliance earned him a career-first UCI World Cup podium in front of a home crowd. Nestled between two world-class Japanese riders, Baran stood proudly on the second step—une belle conclusion to a remarkable week in Montpellier.

BdJ