the final showdown

All roads lead to Chengdu as action sport athletes from around the world compete for honours in the final leg of the 2018 FISE World Series. 

 

Here’s our pick of some key narratives.

 

Who will take the women’s UCI BMX Freestyle Park World Cup? Current leader 17-year-old American Hannah Roberts? Or 18-year-old German Lara Lessmann, who brings great form to Chengdu after taking mixed gold at the Youth Olympic Games? Third-placed Japanese rider Minato Oike, new to the World Cup, will certainly keep them both on their toes.

 

American Nick Bruce, who took the win in Chengdu last year, has been exceptionally consistent in 2018, and has a solid lead in the UCI World Freestyle Park World Cup over last year’s winner Daniel Dhers. Battling for 2nd place – and with big rival Logan Martin out through injury – is Croatia’s Marin Ranteš, just 1,100 points behind Dhers. 

 

Veteran Slovakian Richard Tury is favourite for the FISE World Series Skateboard title. As his nearest rival, Japan’s Daisuke Ikeda, is not competing, this should be a victory parade… but nothing can be taken for granted! If Tury takes the win it would be the biggest of his career. 

 

The World Skate Roller Freestyle Park Cup is one of the most open competitions at FISE Chengdu. Brit Joe Atkinson has a lead of 2,500 points over Dutchman Sem Croft and Australia’s veteran CJ Wellsmore is only 800 points behind him.  

 

Frenchman Matthias Dandois holds a slender 1,000-point lead over long-time friend and rival Alex Jumelin. Both will want to win the inaugural UCI BMX Flatland World Cup title to  make their mark in Flatland history. Battle for 3rd spot is close, too, with Spain’s Jorge Gomez just 300 points ahead of Canadian John William Prévost. This is a must-watch competition! 

 

Tomas Lemoine took 2nd place in the Mountain Bike Slopestyle Final in Montpellier. In Chengdu, with Nicholi Rogatkin not in contention, the door is open for the Frenchman to take top spot on the podium. But it won’t be easy! Fellow Frenchman Simon Pagès and German Lukas Knopf also have their sights on victory.