The International Cycling Union (UCI) announced the results of the election of BMX Racing representatives to its Athletes’ Commission, held during the BMX Racing World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, between July 28 and August 3. Laura Smulders (Netherlands) and Sylvain André (France) were the members chosen by their fellow athletes for this new four-year term.

The two cyclists were elected by the Elite and Under-23 athletes registered in the competition from among five candidates: two women and three men. Smulders, who will serve another term, received 73.3% of the votes cast in the women’s category, while André won among the male candidates with 76.7%. Total participation was 44.10% out of a total of 195 voters.

This vote is part of the process of renewing the UCI Athletes’ Commission for the period 2025-2029. All members are elected by their peers during the World Cycling Championships in the various disciplines. The new composition of the commission will officially take office during the UCI Congress to be held in 2025 in Kigali (Rwanda), or on the date of election if this occurs later. The term of office will end at the 2029 Congress, scheduled to take place in Copenhagen.

More renewals underway

Since 2017, the UCI Athletes’ Commission has had 20 members: one for each gender and discipline. BMX Racing, like the other disciplines, is represented by one man and one woman. Its functions include improving conditions for high-level sport, protecting athletes, and monitoring regulatory changes, among other responsibilities.

Bethany Shriever BMX Champion

The chair of this commission is currently held by Katerina Nash (Czech Republic), elected by the group of representatives themselves. Whoever holds this position in the next term will also have a seat on the UCI Management Committee, the Federation’s main executive body.

The UCI election calendar will continue with the election of representatives for Paralympic cycling in Renaix/Ronse (Belgium) from August 28 to 31. This will be followed by mountain biking in Valais (Switzerland) from September 1 to 14; road cycling in Kigali from September 21 to 28; track cycling in Santiago (Chile) from October 22 to 26; Trials and BMX Freestyle Park in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) from November 4 to 8; and indoor cycling in Göppingen (Germany) from November 7 to 9. The renewal process will culminate between November and December with the election of the new commission president at an inaugural meeting with all elected members.

Shriever and Pilard BMX Racing champions

At the 2025 BMX Racing World Championships in Copenhagen, Bethany Shriever (Great Britain) won her third world title in the Elite Women’s category, winning by more than a second. The Tokyo Olympic champion had already won gold in 2021 and 2023. She was joined on the podium by Australia’s Saya Sakakibara and the Netherlands’ Judy Baauw. In the men’s category, France’s Arthur Pilard won his first rainbow jersey after dominating the Elite men’s final from start to finish. Australia’s Izaac Kennedy was second and Eddy Clerté, also from France, completed the podium. Joris Daudet, defending champion and current Olympic champion, finished fourth.

In the Under-23 categories, Michelle Wissing of the Netherlands and Alexis Pieczanowsky of France took the titles in their respective finals. In the Juniors, Lily Greenough (New Zealand) stood out in the women’s category and Evan Oliviera (France) in the men’s, with the latter securing a French double alongside Clément Rocherieux. The competition, which took place this weekend, brought together more than 3,000 cyclists from around the world in various Challenge and Masters events throughout the week in the Danish capital.