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Canada will host the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup, for the very first time on Friday and Saturday. The top specialists in the discipline will meet at the newly improved track at the Abbotsford BMX Club in British Colombia. 45 Men and 17 women have signed up for the two-day event. Missing are the Columbians and Latvians who must be enjoying some down time after the Olympics.
America’s Connor Fields is currently leading the Men’s competition and hopes to keep his advantage until the end. Winner of the first two events in Chula Vista and Randaberg, he will be aiming for a final success to overcome his disillusion at the London Olympics, when he crashed in the final and crossed the line only in seventh position. Leading with 602 points, Fields has to contend with his Australian rival and reigning World Champion Sam Willoughby (533 points), who has finished second in all the Supercross events this year and second in the Olympics as well.
Among the outsiders, Dutch Twan Van Gendt, 8th in the Supercross ranking, is definitely on a roll with his strong performance at the Olympics. Local favorite Tory Nyhaug has something to prove on his home track. Back from major surgery that saw his spleen removed a few months ago, he is getting back to his best shape after winning the Canadian Nationals.
In the Women’s races, Caroline Buchanan is the obvious favorite for the overall 2012 Supercross title. The Australian has enjoyed a great season so far, which the UCI BMX Time Trials World Championship gold. French rider Magalie Pottier, the reigning UCI BMX World Champion, is trailing Buchanan by 100 points and has a theoretical chance of grabbing the overall win.
Also look out for Felicia Stancil (USA), the Junior World Champion, who wishes to show her potential, and the Olympic bronze medalist Laura Smulders (NED). Last but not least, look out for Shanaze Reade (GBR) who is making a rare appearance on the UCI Supercross circuit and will surely be looking to show everybody she is still a force to be reckoned with.
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