New world champions will be crowned this weekend in Baku, Azerbaijan at the 2018 UCI BMX World Championships as nine British riders chase gold.
Reigning women’s junior world champion, Beth Shriever will compete for the first time at the world championships in the women’s elite category.
Four riders have been selected from the senior Great Britain Cycling Team for the elite men category. Four riders chosen from Britain’s upcoming talent will compete in the junior categories.
The team
After a successful start to the season, winning a round of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in Zolder, Belgium, Beth Shriever will be looking to build on her form and make an impact at the world championships.
The 19-year-old has made a promising start to the year after stepping up to elite level at the beginning of the current season and is the only elite woman to represent the Great Britain Cycling Team in Azerbaijan.
How did you get into BMX? What was the first big jump you attempted?
— British Cycling (@BritishCycling) June 4, 2018
We caught up with Great Britain Cycling Team riders @KEvans26 and @Quillan96 before the 2018 UCI BMX World Championships
Pop back everyday this week to see what the lads have to say! pic.twitter.com/x7e9b3lTy8
Quillan Isidore will take to the start ramp in Baku having produced a career-best fourth place at a round of the world cup this year after returning from a broken leg last season.
The three other senior squad riders Kyle Evans, Tre Whyte and brother Kye Whyte complete the four elite men places.
Evans, having finished fourth at a round of the world cup and also reaching a semi-final this year, looks to be hitting form in time for the world championships.
Development squad riders Tian Isidore and Ross Cullen will also take to the start line in Great Britain colours in the junior men’s races across the weekend, Isidore returning from a recent collarbone injury.
Junior women riders Elissa Bradford and Libby Smith will also compete in Baku.
Great Britain Cycling Team for the UCI BMX World Championships, Baku
Elite men
Kyle Evans
Quillan Isidore
Kye Whyte
Tre Whyte
Elite women
Beth Shriever
Junior men
Ross Cullen
Tian Isidore
Junior women
Elissa Bradford
Libby Smith
The venue
The BMX Velopark in Baku, Azerbaijan was originally built for the 2015 European Games.
The outdoor course has a capacity of 1,600 and the 395m track is built to UCI standards, featuring a one-of-a-kind exclusively designed first jump.
The schedule (UK times)
Friday 8 June
17:40 - 20:00 - Motos - category order: junior men, junior women, elite men, elite women.
Saturday 9 June
17:40 - 20:00 – Finals - 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 and final - category order: junior women, junior men, elite women, elite men.
How to follow
- Updates on British Cycling’s Twitter, Instagram and Facebook
- Report from each round will appear on the British Cycling website
Watch live
- Finals will be live on the BBC Sport website and the red button on Sat 9 June from 5.30-8.30pm.
