Paris Olympians Rico Bearman and Leila Walker led the New Zealand riders to progress to quarterfinals after the first day of the UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Brisbane.
Five New Zealand riders qualified to the quarterfinals to be decided tomorrow ahead of the Challenge Championship for age group competitors with 3000 riders competing.
Last year’s junior world champion, Lily Greenough is through to the quarterfinals in her first year in under-23 racing, while fellow Cambridge rider Finn Cogan is into the quarterfinal in the under-23 men.
Rotorua’s Megan Williams joined Walker in tomorrow’s elite racing quarterfinals after qualifying through the Last Chance round.
Bearman was in impressive form throughout the opening day with a strong qualifying effort and pushed through to tomorrow quarterfinals. He won his heat and the one-eighth round where he was the fourth fastest rider overall.
National champion Walker was third in her first round to move into the quarterfinals, joined by Williams, who was second in the last chance race.
Last year’s junior world champion Lily Greenough won her heat in the under-23 competition to move into the quarterfinals, the only kiwi female from this class to qualify, with Cogan having to battle through the last chance race to also earn a quarterfinal berth in the men.
Lily Greenough in action at the UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Brisbane today. (Credit: Cole McOnie)