ARA Australian Cycling Team named for 2024 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships

The AusCycling National Selection Panel has today announced the six athletes that will compete in BMX Freestyle for the ARA Australian Cycling Team at the 2024 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships.

This year’s UCI Urban Cycling World Championships will take place from December 17-21 in Abu Dhabi, and features BMX Freestyle Park, BMX Freestyle Flatland, and Observed Trials.

Natalya Diehm will compete in her first major event since taking out the bronze medal at La Concorde in July, while 2020 Olympic gold medallist Logan Martin also returns to competition for the first time since Paris 2024.

Martin won a silver medal in Glasgow last year, but could become the first ever three-time world champion in the discipline with another gold in Abu Dhabi, having won the title previously in 2017 and 2021.

Samual Grace has beaten down the door of national selectors over the last 12 months to earn a debut world championship appearance. Already this year, the Victorian has won the AusCycling BMX Freestyle National Championship, finished second in the Oceania Continental Championship, and secured two top-10 results in the UCI World Cup.

The ARA ACT athletes representing Australia at the 2024 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships in Abu Dhabi

At just 17 years of age, Sarah Nicki will compete at her third UCI World Championships. After finishing 22^nd and 15^th at the last two events, Nicki stands on the cusp of qualifying for her first final at this event.

Rounding out the team will be Alec Danelutti and Jaie Toohey. Both athletes last competed in the Olympic Qualifier Series and will be desperate to make a world championship final, having never finished higher than 20^th and 25^th respectively.

2019 UCI World Champion and current world number 12 Brandon Loupos was unavailable for selection as he continues to recover from a spinal injury suffered at X Games Chiba in September.

Meanwhile, Matt Harding was eligible to be selected in Observed Trials, but opted not to compete as he focuses on the 2025 season.

The team was selected according to the AusCycling selection policy. For more information about the 2024 UCI Urban World Championships, visit the competition hub.

ARA Australian Cycling Team for the 2024 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships

ELITE MEN

• Alec Danelutti
• Samual Grace
• Logan Martin
• Jaie Toohey

ELITE WOMEN

• Natalya Diehm
• Sarah Nicki

Cover Photo: Tyler Rizzi