BMX Racing World Cup 2022: These Are the Representatives of Colombia

Colombia is ready to receive a sporting event that usually excites many fans: the UCI BMX Racing World Cup. After the rounds held in Glasgow (Scotland) and Papendal (The Netherlands), Bogotá will be in charge of giving continuity to stages 5 and 6, between September 24 and 25, and stages 7 and 8, from 1 to 2 October, on the Carlos Ramírez track at the El Salitre Sports Recreation Park.

This tournament serves as an Olympic qualifier for the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, and in turn is also valid for participants to earn points for their respective Olympic committees in the BMX Racing ranking. As announced by the official site Olympics.com, all rounds can be viewed for free on its YouTube channel, Olympics Channel.

It is worth noting that since Bogotá is the venue, the Colombian representatives will surely start as favorites to be among the first places. To do this, Germán Medina, coach of the Colombian BMX Team, formed a team with 12 representatives to try to give an excellent show and a high-class closing to the BMX World Cup.

The Best BMX Team in Colombia

As everyone expected, the talented Mariana Pajón will be the one to lead the national team. The Antioquian and double Olympic medallist was recently crowned Pan American and South American champion in Santiago del Estero, Argentina. His mission in this event will be to get on the podium, as she has been elusive in the previous four rounds this season.

The other female member of the elite team is Gabriela Bolle, a 21-year-old from Florencia, capital of the department of Caquetá. Her most recent feat was the second place in the South American in Argentina that Pajón just won. Despite her young age, in 2018 she won a gold medal at the Central American and Caribbean Games, and two bronze medals at the BMX World Championships and the Youth Olympic Games.

Regarding the men, the double Olympic medallist Carlos Ramírez returns to the track that bears his name to leave a performance to remember. The man from Antioquia, who could not participate in the previous edition of the BMX World Cup, got a third place in the fourth round in Papendal. Now, at home, he will do his best to come first yes or yes.

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Another of the most outstanding Colombian riders is Diego Arboleda, who is participating in his first BMX Racing World Cup. Currently, he is second in the world ranking of the discipline, despite the fact that in May he came to lead it based on good results. The man from Antioquia won gold at the Pan-American in Argentina and also triumphed in the first round of this cup held in Glasgow. Now, in his country, he seeks to repeat the feat.

Also, Mateo Carmona and Juan Camilo Ramírez close the list of summoned elite team. On the one hand, Carmona is a 20-year-old whose technique and precision on the bike have left pleasant impressions. In the first round of this cup, he finished fifth. In turn, Ramírez is a clear example that humility, motivation, and perseverance can do anything. His most recent success was last July, when he won the world sub-championship in the under-23 category in Nantes (France).

Regarding the sub-23 team, up to three girls make up the Colombian National Team. Valentina Muñoz, national champion, took all the honors at the Pan American and South American championships in Argentina, comfortably winning the gold medals. For his part, Sharid Fayad, whose career is short but successful, won two gold medals in the junior category of the same championship. While Isabela Carranza, with a promising future ahead of her, placed sixth in the last world championship.

Finally, the group is completed by three young people who aim to be the next generation. All eyes are on Santiago Santa, double gold medalist in the junior category of the Pan American and South American championships. Samuel Zapata Giraldo also appears, who finished eighth in the sub-23 category of the same championship. And finally Juan Pablo Chaparro, who at 18 years old has established himself in BMX Racing and BMX Supercross championships.