Montpellier gathers crowds around urban sports

Jun 03, 2025

Written by Bart de Jong

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Montpellier celebrates its champions on the parks, ramps, kickers, boxes and in the air. Since last Wednesday, FISE Montpellier has transformed the Occitan city into the world capital of urban sports, welcoming nearly 300,000 visitors and 1,500 international athletes. Seven sports were featured, including four Olympic disciplines for Paris 2024 (BMX Freestyle Park, Skateboarding, Breaking, and 3x3 Basketball), with more than 80 elite competitions, including four World Cup stops. The level of competition lived up to the high expectations throughout this Ascension Week.

One of the standout moments of this 28th edition was the kickoff of the UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Cup. French rider Anthony Jeanjean, bronze medalist in Paris last summer, claimed second place,

starting his season strong on home turf in front of a fully supportive crowd. He was up against the best in the world, including Olympic champions Logan Martin (2020) and Jose Gil Torres (2024), but it was American Marcus Christopher who upset the predictions and took the win.

On the women’s side, China’s Sibei Sun delivered a masterful run to secure the top spot in the World Cup.

Another major highlight of FISE was the UCI BMX Flatland World Cup, which, as tradition goes, closed out the five-day festival on Sunday. The eight finalists delivered next-level performances that continue to raise the bar each year, thrilling an electric crowd. Absent from the competition, ten-time world champion Matthias Dandois, who retired here in 2024, was in attendance to support his fellow riders. In a symbolic moment, he passed the torch to the next generation, embodied by 19-year-old Julien Baran, who earned his very first World Cup podium with an impressive second place. The victory went to Japan’s Yu Shoji, untouchable on Sunday with incredibly inventive and precise tricks. The third spot was claimed by fellow Japanese talent Yu Katagiri.

An undeniable crowd magnet at FISE, the Spine Ramp once again lit up the nights of Montpellier with three unforgettable evening sessions. In Skateboarding, Scooter, and BMX, riders went all in with bold runs, world-first tricks, and unmatched energy.

Among the most emotional moments on the Spine: the farewell of British BMX legend Mark Webb, who officially retired under FISE’s spotlights. It was a moving tribute to a career deeply tied to the event that helped launch him, met with a thunderous ovation. Beside him on Saturday night was another icon, Australia’s Ryan Williams, there to share the moment in a celebration full of respect, camaraderie, and legacy.