The 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Cup season returns over the next fortnight in China.
An ARA Australian Cycling Team quartet will race in the green and gold across four rounds in Mentougou and Chongli.
The Mentougou double-header has been brought forward one day to Friday and Saturday (October 2-3) due to strong winds forecast in the area on Sunday.
Rounds seven and eight will be raced in Chongli a week later across the October 10-11 weekend.
Newly crowned elite world champion Jesse Asmus will race for the first time in rainbows, joined by U23 world champion Josh Jolly, who will race as an elite for the first time at the World Cup level.
Sienna Pal and Teya Rufus will fly the flag in the elite women. Pal currently sits ninth overall after four rounds, with Rufus close behind in 12th.
A practice crash and shoulder injury for Olympic champion Saya Sakakibara has prematurely ended her 2026 season.
Injury has also sidelined Izaac Kennedy, who returned to racing in the United States last month after missing the Brisbane 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Championships.
Four-time Olympian Lauren Reynolds has remained in the US ahead of the final two rounds in Sarasota at the end of October.
ARA Australian Cycling Team
Elite Men
- Jesse Asmus (Nerang BMX Club/QLD)
- Josh Jolly (Ashmore BMX Club/QLD)
Elite Women
- Sienna Pal (Terrigal BMX Club/NSW)
- Teya Rufus (Maryborough BMX Club/QLD)
Additional Australian riders in China
Elite Men
- Jack Davis (Tamworth City BMX Club/NSW)
- Jye Furner (Macarthur BMX Club/NSW)
- Aston Wypych-Coles (Nerang BMX Club/QLD)
Elite Women
- Bella May (Casey BMX Club/VIC)
U23 Women
- Bella Schramm (Ashmore BMX Club/QLD)
U23 Men
- Noah Elton (San Remo BMX Club/NSW)
- Billy Smidt (San Remo BMX Club/NSW)
- Zac Stoppa (Ashmore BMX Club/QLD)
Schedule
All times listed in local China Standard Time (GMT +8) first and Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) second.
Round 5 - Friday, October 2 (Mentougou)
- First round: 11:40 / 13:40
- Last chance: 12:25 / 14:25
- Eighth final: 13:00 / 15:00
- Quarterfinals: 13:30 / 15:30
- Semifinals: 15:15 / 17:15
- Finals: 15:45 / 17:45
Round 6 - Saturday, October 3 (Mentougou)
- First round: 11:40 / 13:40
- Last chance: 12:25 / 14:25
- Eighth final: 13:00 / 15:00
- Quarterfinals: 13:30 / 15:30
- Semifinals: 15:15 / 17:15
- Finals: 15:45 / 17:45
Round 7 - Saturday, October 10 (Chongli)
- TBC
Round 8 - Sunday, October 11 (Chongli)
- TBC
Note: Daylight saving in south-eastern states starts on Sunday, October 4. AEST is one hour behind AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time) from that date.
How to watch
Racing from the 1/8 finals will be streamed on UCI YouTube.
Feature image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com