British Cycling has today confirmed the team of BMXers who will represent Great Britain Cycling Team at the opening two rounds of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup Series in Papendal, Netherlands, from 6-7 May 2017.
British Cycling’s Kyle Evans and Tre Whyte will take to the start gate in Papendal while fellow Podium Programme rider and 2013 world champion Liam Phillips unfortunately misses out as he recovers from a wrist injury sustained at the Gator Nationals - Supercross Series in Oldsmar, Florida in February.
Both Evans and Whyte made world cup finals in 2016 and will be looking to build on this during the 2017 season.
Senior Academy riders Paddy Sharrock, 18, and Quillan Isidore, 20, have also made selection with Isidore aiming to make it through to the latter rounds of the competition having exited in the moto stages at both of his 2016 world cup outings.
Seventeen-year-old Kye Whyte, younger brother of Tre, will make his UCI BMX Supercross World Cup debut but has impressed on the domestic scene this season with wins at rounds one and two of the HSBC UK | BMX National Series in Manchester, and has also shown strong performances in the junior men’s class at the opening four rounds of the 2017 UEC BMX European Series.
Bethany Shriever has started the season in superb form with victories in the junior women’s category in the first four rounds of the UEC BMX European Series. The 18-year-old will be setting out to build on two semi-final appearances in her debut 2016 world cup season. Blaine Ridge-Davis makes her third world cup appearance having also debuted in the series in 2016.
Podium BMX coach Grant White said: “I’m pleased we’ve been able to name a big squad for the first two rounds of the series, although it’s a shame Liam Phillips misses out whilst he recovers from injury.
“The world cup weekend in the Netherlands will provide all riders with valuable, high-quality, international super cross racing experience. Kyle and Tre particularly will be looking to add an increased level of consistency in 2017, having shown in 2016 they are capable of top-eight results. Quillan, Paddy and Kye are all at different stages of development, but all will be looking to progress as far as possible in the new 2017 world cup racing format.
“In the women’s event, both Beth and Blaine have shown some great performances in the European junior events this year. The world cup in Papendal will be a significant step up in competition, but exposure to events such as this will be vital to their ongoing development. Both riders will be aiming to achieve personal best results at this world cup and will be striving to achieve their first ever top-eight final result throughout the course of the season.”
Great Britain Cycling Team for UCI BMX Supercross World Cup, Papendal
Kyle Evans
Quillan Isidore
Blaine Ridge-Davis
Paddy Sharrock
Beth Shriever
Kye Whyte
Tre Whyte