he is also the host country’s big hope for glory at the Pietermaritzburg event so the SA BMX community were well pleased with the 23-year-old’s semi-final finish at the World Cup in Denmark earlier this month.
But Nhlapo will have to be at his very best to record a sentimental home victory. Although one of his biggest challengers, 2009 World Champion Donny Robinson is currently injured and it is not certain if he will be in Pietermaritzburg to defend his title, there are plenty of other riders who are building up to challenge for the world champion’s crown.
With two World Cup events completed so far this season, the rider who has pushed his name to the head of the list of riders to beat is reigning Olympic Champion, Latvian Maris Strombergs, who recently won the World Cup in Copenhagen, Denmark, and heads the 2010 World Cup standings.
The world’s top ranked rider is 19-year-old Sam Willoughby. He cruised to victory in the opening World Cup event in Madrid earlier this year and had it not been for a crash in the semi-finals, would surely have been in contention for a repeat victory in Copenhagen.
In the women’s category Frenchwomen Laëtitia le Corguillé has two World Cup victories in a row and is shaping up to be the women to beat
The UCI BMX World Championships takes place at the Royal Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg from 29 July to 1 August. More information can be found at bmxworldchampspmb.co.za