Netherlands, Australia Top BMX Seed Runs

Netherlands topped the seeding run for the men’s BMX cycling competition Wednesday, while USA managed to get three riders into the top 15.

Raymon van der Biezen of Netherlands finished first with a time of 37.779 and compatriot Twan van Gendt third in the first heat, split by Joris Daudet of France. American Connor Fields finished fourth, .652 seconds off the winning pace.

Nicholas Long of the U.S. finished seventh, and David Herman fifteenth.

Australia’s Caroline Buchanan beat New Zealand’s Sarah Walker and Colombia’s Mariana Pajon in the women’s event. USA’s Alise Post qualified eighth.

Buchanan’s time of 38.434 was only .665 seconds slower than the winning men’s time; she would have finished fifth in the men’s event

USA’s Brooke Crain crashed in her seed run and was not scored.

Quite unlike in track cycling, Great Britain didn’t dominate on the BMX track. The best placed British men’s rider was Liam Phillips in 12th. Shanaze Reade did better on the women’s side, qualifying fifth.

Riders rode solo on the bumpy, jump-filled 400-meter course to set their seed times. Throughout the rest of the competition, riders will race in groups of eight.

BMX racing was introduces at the Beijing Olympics. Competitors use tiny but very tough bicycles to navigate a course of big banked turns and tall moguls. The starting line is elevated—gravity and pedaling both provide the power needed to negotiate the course.

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