Flatland BMX delivers a powerful ending at FISE
To say that the BMX Flat finals were an emotional experience would be an understatement. We knew that Sunday would bring a memorable finish, and if it's always a special moment at FISE, this year's closing day had a very special flavour.
Like last year, the final competition of this 2024 edition took place today on the BMX Flat area, and if the earth is indeed round, Japanese riders often had the opportunity to make us doubt it. Indeed, Japan is the land of flat and full of riders, each more talented than the last, as we witnessed today in these finals.
In third place was Yu Katagiri, a rear-wheel specialist whose feline style won over the judges at the end of the semi-finals. Despite an incredible technical level, potentially the best in this contest, the risks he took during his run led him to commit several mistakes which affected his overall score.
It's a strange feeling to think that we've now seen Matthias Dandois' last run here in Montpellier. Having grown up with the event, he had announced that this would be his last FISE, but the child prodigy of French BMX had the elegance to go out with a bang. With a run that was less adventurous than his rivals, yet fluid and without the slightest error, he delivered a very high-flying performance, with tricks straight out of his imagination, and a very successful last dance!
But it was Japan's Yu Shoji who came out on top again this year, after his first victory in 2023. His hyper-energetic riding and great dynamism enabled him to overcome a small slip-up midway through the competition, thanks also to his outstanding technique and commitment on all the sequences he performed. Yu has done it again, and we can't wait to see him in action next year, when he'll try to complete the hat-trick!
These last moments, these last words, are also an opportunity for us to thank you for following us all these years, and for joining us in such great numbers on the banks of the Lez. These last moments are those of the heart, and these last words are simply a very big, very sincere THANK YOU!
