Australian team named for the 2022 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships

29 Sep 2022 | 04:56 PMBy: Xavier Cordier

AusCycling is excited to announce to announce the squad for the UCI Urban Cycling World Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates from November 9 – 13. Eight athletes will represent Australia in the BMX Freestyle Park category whilst one athlete will represent Australia in Observed Trials.

BMX Freestyle Park

World Champion and Olympic gold medalist, Logan Martin highlights a squad of six men heading to the middle east for this year’s championships.

Martin has continued his fine form in 2022, adding two gold medals to his X-Games collection, the Oceania title in Beenleigh in April this year and is in firm contention for the UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup title after two podium finishes in the first two rounds.

“I’m excited and grateful to be competing at another World Championships,” Martin said.

*Logan Martin after being crowned World Champion in France last year. Picture: FISE*

“I didn’t have the chance to defend my world championship title the first time round in 2017 due to injury so I’m looking forward to doing my best and hopefully defending it this time round.”

“2022 has been extremely busy on and off the bike, my wife and I welcomed our baby girl Luna into the world, so 2 kids is definitely a lot more work.

“On the bike, I grabbed another 2 X-Games gold medals bringing my total to 5 as well as producing solid performances at the world cup rounds that has put me in a good place ahead of the final round at home on the Gold Coast.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Logan Martin (@loganmartinbmx)

Martin is keen to defend his world title and be the first rider to grab three Freestyle Park world titles but is aware of how tough the competition is this year.

“The competition is always tough and even more so at a world championship!” Martin said.

“Everyone has been a lot more consistent with staying on their bike this year and I’m sure a lot of the guys will be pulling it all together in their runs in November.

“A few of the younger guys are really gunning for the top spot but all I like to worry about is making sure I have been working hard at home leading into the event, and then going out and doing the best I can on the day.

If I pull the runs I plan to do I’m happy!”

Brandon Loupos is back in the Australian team after a difficult year with injury. Loupos ruptured his ACL during the world championships in France last year and made a recovery before reinjuring it earlier this year.

*Brandon Loupos during the 2021 UCI BMX Freestyle World Championships. Picture: FISE*

Joining Loupos and Martin will be Jaie Toohey who grabbed a silver and bronze medal at the X-Games in July and Josh Matthews who placed sixth at last year’s championships. Queenslanders Alec Danelutti and Jake Wallwork complete the Aussie men’s contingent.

In the elite women, Natalya Diehm will make her return to competition for the first time since the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games after suffering a knee injury at the Games.

*Natalya Diehm during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Picture: Getty Sport*

Diehm will be joined by Sarah Nicki who showed her talents at the start of the year in Beenleigh, taking out the elite women’s Oceania title.

Observed Trials

Australian Champion, Nathan Mummery will be Australia’s only athlete in the observed trials category at the 2022 UCI Urban Cycling World Championships.

Mummery successfully defended his elite national title in Canberra earlier this year and has had the world championships as a goal since he regained his title.