UCI World Cup

With world champion, Maris Strombergs, still being unfit for competition due the hand and shoulder injury obtained in late 2010, the first event in the 2011 Supercross World Cup was always going to be of particular interest to the BMX world. In his stead, Australia’s Sam Willoughby became the elite men’s category’s favourite for gold. On the first day, however, honours went to the French team who claimed double victory for the elite men’s and women’s categories in the time trial stages. Joris Daudet took the title for the stage by posting a time of 33.497 seconds. 2009 junior world champion, Manon Valentino (21), posted the fastest women’s time at 33.541 seconds. Sam Willoughby finished in sixth place, and 19 year old American Corben Sharrah finished in fifth. The first day also saw its share of injuries, with the South African team sustaining more than their due of grievances. In addition to South Africa’s premier performer, Sfiso “Skizo” Nhlapo, being ruled out by injury before the event, South Africans Donovan Minnie, Lunga Mkhize and Kane Herbert all sustained performance inhibiting injuries. Gavin Lubbe and Teagan O’Keeffe remained SA’s sole competitors going into day 2 of the event.

On the second day of the Supercross, the grand final day, Lubbe just missed quarter final qualification, and Teagan O’Keeffe, South Africa’s top performer for the day, narrowly missed her qualification for the Women’s semi-finals. Men’s favourite, Sam Willoughby, crashed out of the semi-finals in a 4 rider pile up, leaving the men’s field wide open. During the final, however, once Corben Sharrah took the lead into the first corner, the race was his to lose. And the American didn’t disappoint, winning the men’s medal by posting a time of 34.054 seconds. Frenchman Joris Daudet took third place, and was probably the best male performer of the event. His achievements were, however, overshadowed by his female compatriot, Manon Valentino. After an injury plagued 2010, the former junior star won the women’s final, bringing her double gold weekend to a close in the best possible fashion.