Strong performances all round for Australia at the latest UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup

While no Australian was able to claim individual victory, a weekend of strong performances at the latest UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup has underlined Australia’s credentials heading into the World Championships next month.

In a field of 80 riders, all four Australian elite men qualified for the semi-finals in Belgium, with Alec Danellutti the leading Aussie in fifth position.

Logan Martin would be the only representative to progress through the semi-final stage, but Australia was unlucky not to have more men through to the Final, with Danellutti (14th) and Jaie Toohey (15th) just missing the top 12 cut-off.

Martin put together a pair of typically strong runs in the final and was unlucky to not score a higher result, falling to crowd favourite Anthony Jeanjean (France), with Japan's Rim Nakamura in third.

The Olympian was nonetheless happy with his performance.

“Super stoked with the way I rode. I slipped a foot in my first run, so I had to had to do the second run and got it done, so super happy with it.

“It was a crazy weekend. I think the judging was quite all over the shop. There was a lot of drama and stuff throughout the weekend, weather delays all that sort of stuff, but stoked to have finished the week here in Belgium in third place.”

In the Elite Women, Natalya Diehm continues her post-injury resurgence, placing seventh overall.

After qualifying in 11th place, the Queenslander may have finished even higher if not for taking a fall towards the very end of her second run in the final.

Diehm was otherwise happy with her result, saying she overachieved on her expectations coming into the event.

“Super stoked with how I rode. Unfortunately, came off on my second run, but my personal goal coming here this week was to make Top 8, and ended up in seventh.

"Coming out healthy and second contest back, and I just keep rising and I'm excited to go to Worlds next month and just see how much I can improve and hopefully make a podium.”

Martin remains in the lead of the overall UCI World Cup standings following the weekend’s results, while Jaie Toohey has also moved into the top ten.

After missing the first event of the year, Diehm has rapidly moved up the Elite Women standings, currently sitting in 11th place.

Men’s Final Replay

Women's Final Replay

Main Image: The Agency / UCI BMX Freestyle