Cambridge teenager Lily Greenough impressed with a runner-up performance at the latest round of the UCI BMX Racing World Cup in the Netherlands today.
It marked a breakthrough ride for the 2025 Junior World Champion, bouncing back from injury to finish on the podium in the first full season in Under-23 competition for the 18-year-old kiwi.
Greenough, in strong form in Saturday’s third round of the world series, finished seventh after a collision in the final.
She bounced back to make her mark in the fourth round at the famed Papendal course today, winning her first-round qualifier, the quarterfinal and semifinal in impressive fashion.
Greenough was edged in a close battle with Renske van Santvoort in final, with the Dutch rider having won at the opening round in Sarrians, France last week and leads the standings after finishing runner-up at the world championships in 2025.
The young kiwi star, second in the World Cup standings for 2025, has moved to sixth in the overall under-23 championship after missing a round at Sarrians with injury.
Fellow under-23 racer, Brooke Penny (Te Awamutu) has enjoyed significant progress in Europe, finishing sixth in her first final on Saturday and edged out in the semifinal today with just two seconds covering the field.
There was strong progress from the under-23 men with Finn Cogan (Cambridge) fifth in Saturday’s final and edged out by one spot in the second round today.
Fellow club rider Jack Greenough had an impressive start but went out in the quarterfinals on both rounds in Sarrians, while Christchurch rider Jesse Green missed out in the first round.
Olympian Leila Walker went out in semifinal today and quarterfinal on Saturday in a competitive elite women’s field, with Rotorua’s Megan Williams edged out in the quarterfinals in both rounds.
National elite champion Rico Bearman showed plenty of speed and promise, without much fortune, caught in a tangle in the semifinal on Saturday and eliminated by one spot in the semifinal today by just 0.07s.
Fellow kiwi Michael Bias was edged out in the last chance heat on Saturday, but showed good speed before missing out in a highly competitive quarterfinal today.
The riders return to prepare for the world championships in four weeks’ time in Brisbane with over 3,000 riders expected to compete across BMX Racing and Challenge (age group) classes.
The UCI BMX Racing World Cup resumes with two double rounds in China in early October ahead of the final two rounds at Sarasota in Florida USA.
Lily Greenough in action at Papendal, Netherlands at the UCI BMX Racing World Cup. (Credit: Cole McOnie)