Junior world champion Lily Greenough led the New Zealand contingent in a super-charged opening round of the 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Cup in Sarrians, France.
The Cambridge teenager was the fastest across qualifying motos in the under-23 women on a blistering hot day in south-east France, winning her semifinal. While competing for the lead in the final, Greenough crashed in a battle with a Dutch rider on the last corner and did not finish.
Greenough was the only New Zealand rider to progress to the grand finals on a massive opening day of the 10-round championship that attracted 320 riders from 30 nations.
National champion Rico Bearman was forced to progress through the Last Chance heat in the elite men, winning his moto. He then showed speed to progress through to the semifinals of the elite men, but had a tangle with Paris Olympic champion Joris Daudet, with both finishing at the back of the pack.
Compatriots Michael Bias and Bennett Greenough both finished sixth and were eliminated in the first round.
Paris Olympian Leila Walker began the competition strongly, showing her renowned racecraft, but was slow out of the start in the semifinal to miss out, while Rotorua’s Megan Williams was eliminated in the Last chance moto.
The kiwi trio of Jack Greenough, Finn Cogan and Jesse Green did not progress out of the round of 16 in the under-23 men while Rotorua’s Brooke Penny progressed to the quarterfinals of the under-23 women, edged out for the last qualifying place for the semifinals.
The kiwis return for the second round at the same venue on Sunday (local time).
Cambridge rider Rico Bearman (white with NZ Blue sleeve) in the elite men’s final. (Credit: Cole McOnie Photos)