Saya Sakakibara has started her UCI BMX Racing World Cup title defence strongly in France, winning Round 2 on Sunday after finishing third in the opening round on Saturday.
In the Round 2 final, the 26-year-old ARA Australian Cycling Team star grabbed the holeshot from Sarrians' first gate and raced away from the chasing pack, led by Round 1 winner Molly Simpson (Canada), to win comfortably by 0.837 seconds.
The Olympic champion clocked the fastest women's lap of the weekend to claim the 13th elite World Cup win of her career.
"It (the win) sets me up for the season," Sakakibara said.
"You never really know coming into a new season, how ... what you've been doing is going to work.
"Yesterday, I was able to get the fastest lap of the day, and I knew that I had an in me to get this win.
"There's so many great riders on that gate today, and all I had to do was believe in myself, and I did.
"Because it's such a short first straight, it's so important to really get out in front and that's how Molly (Simpson) did so well yesterday, and I knew I had the inside of her on this one. I knew that if I did my best gate, I would at least match her down the hill and it was going to be a race from there."
The reigning three-time World Cup overall winner travels to rounds three and four next weekend in Papendal second in the points standings behind Simpson.
The Dutch double-header will be the final World Cups before Sakakibara turns her attention to a home 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Brisbane.
"I think the home World Championships is probably as big as the Olympic Games and it's kind of a really good timing two years from the Games, and it's going to be so special to be able to compete in a World Championships on home soil, (with a) home crowd," she said.
"I can see how amazing the support here for the French, for Axelle (Étienne) on the gate. I had to smile for her because the crowd here is seriously so good."
In the Under-23 classes, Josh Jolly and Bella Schramm both delivered second place finishes in Round 1.
For Schramm, the result was a maiden World Cup podium.
Results
Round 1
Elite Women
- Saya Sakakibara - 3rd
- Sienna Pal - 6th
- Teya Rufus - 21st
- Bella May - DNS
Elite Men
- Jesse Asmus - 28th
- Oli Moran - 34th
- Hayden Fletcher (Individual) - 75th
- Jye Moon (Individual) - 77th
U23 Men
- Josh Jolly - 2nd
- Jordan Callum - 33rd
- Austin McNair (Individual) - 99th
U23 Women
- Bella Schramm (Individual) - 2nd
- Charli Guy (Individual) - 6th
- Mia Webster (Individual) - 23rd
Round 2
Elite Women
- Saya Sakakibara - 3rd
- Sienna Pal - 9th
- Teya Rufus - 16th
- Bella May - DNS
Elite Men
- Oli Moran - 52nd
- Jesse Asmus - 56th
- Hayden Fletcher (Individual) - 61st
- Jye Moon (Individual) - 81st
U23 Men
- Jordan Callum - 10th
- Josh Jolly - 12th
- Austin McNair (Individual) - 99th
U23 Women
- Charli Guy (Individual) - 9th
- Bella Schramm (Individual) - 10th
- Mia Webster (Individual) - 12th
Feature picture: Navada Photography