First victory in Montpellier for Anthony Jeanjean

The setting: twelve qualified riders for this BMX Park final, and a compact crowd massed on both sides of the Lez. 

Light or shade was the choice, with a little wind that had no impact on the riding, but was enough to refresh the crowd as the tension rose along with the temperature. There you go for the weather report, and as for the format: two heats, and two 60-second runs per rider, it's the best of the two that will decide the winner of this UCI World Cup event. 

Falls were costly, very costly today, and the five expert judges left no stone unturned. 

This final was a matter of detail, and at this level, it was the experience of the headliners that would make the difference. While American Bryce Tryon (5th) and Briton Reef Way (4th) performed two very fine runs which enabled them to flirt with the podium, they lacked a few bangers to make their mark on this gigantic park. And bangers are precisely the specialty of our leading trio. With some great amplitude, Declan Brooks took third place with a big double backflip and a table sent two meters over the wall after a very committed manual. It's all well and good, but too little to go after Australian Brandon Loupos, the 2019 World Champion and a monster of technique and power. After a huge 1080 on the box followed by a flair whip, he also landed the first cash roll of the competition and hit a 540 flair at the buzzer. Just enough to take... second place. 

For this final remained above all that of Anthony Jeanjean, local hero and crowd favorite, boosted by a standing-room-only crowd. His run? Simply perfect and fully controlled, with a 360 downside whip and then a 720 on the step-down, but also a 360 triple whip and a very clean double back, ending with a disconcertingly easy 540 flair. And that's all there is to it: the cup for Anthony, finally victorious in Montpellier after coming so close last year. 

A great move in the fight for the UCI World Champion title, for the man who is currently third in the world! It's with a huge smile that he'll board his plane for Shanghai this evening, where he'll compete in the OQS next weekend. 

And it's a smile we're likely to keep for a long time to come, at least until next year's FISE 2025!