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BMX FS National Champs: Danelutti on hunt for maiden title, Nicki aims for three-peat

Feb 6, 2024

Some of Australia’s best BMX Freestyle riders will battle it out at RampFest this weekend as they vie to be crowned the 2024 national champion.

After being held on the Gold Coast last year, the 2024 AusCycling BMX Freestyle National Championships return to RampFest in Melbourne, which has recently been refreshed with a new course layout.

The battle for the elite men’s title will be wide open, with last year’s winner and World No 1 Logan Martin deciding not to compete as he focuses on the Olympic Qualifier Series later this year.

In the elite women’s category, defending champion Sarah Nicki will be looking to make it three national championships in a row, but will have some tough competition in three-time national champion Natalya Diehm.

“I’m feeling pretty good, I’ve been training hard and I’m excited to ride the new RampFest set-up,” Nicki said.

“The competition will be tough this year, but it should be fun.

“I’ve been putting lots of work in, on and off the bike and hopefully that will pay off in Melbourne.”

Ranked 18th in the world, Nicki is coming off a big year with the ARA Australian Cycling team, which included competing at the World Championships in Glasgow where she finished 15th overall.

“It has been a good 12 months for me. I’ve ticked off a lot of goals, had some amazing experiences and have been learning a lot from the rest of the team and the support staff,” she said.

“Overseas events have taught me how to plan a run with minimal time on the course, how to effectively use my practice time and some strategies for dealing with competition nerves.”

Diehm, ranked world No. 10, also had a positive 2023 after returning from injury, just missing out on the podium at the World Cup in Bazhong, China where she finished 4th.

Despite Martin and last year’s silver medallist Jaie Toohey both sitting out the national champs, there will be some big names gunning for the elite men’s national title.

2019 World Champion and two-time national champion Brandon Loupos is one to watch as is Alec Danelutti, hungry for his first maiden national title.

Danelutti finished third at the Oceania Continental championships and fifth at the national championships in 2023, which he said has stoked the fire in his belly to go better this year.


“I am keen to get out there and ride the best I can, putting it on the line for the National Title. A win at this event would be an awesome achievement for me,” he said.

After having a few weeks off with pneumonia at the end of last year, Danelutti is now fit and healthy, and ready to rip it at his old stomping ground RampFest.

“I’ve been feeling really good on the bike lately and am just having a ball riding, so it is going to be a really fun event. The new setup down at RampFest is super fun too, so it will be awesome to have a contest on the brand new ramps.”

Beyond the national champs, Danelutti has his sights set on the Paris Olympics and will look get some big results at the Olympic Qualifying Series in Shanghai and Budapest in May and June.

“I am going to continue working hard to make my vision come to life,” he said.

The national championships are within the 2024 World Championship criteria and for athlete categorisation.

This year’s championships will also include the exciting BMX Flatland invitational on Saturday, where there will also be a chance to get to know some of the elite riders better at a Meet the Pros session before they battle it out at midday on Sunday.

2024 AusCycling BMX Freestyle National Championships

Follow @AusCycling

The 2024 AusCycling BMX Freestyle National Championships are proudly presented by RampFest in partnership with Maribyrnong City Council & the Victorian State Government.

Main photo: Sarah Nicki competing at the World Championships in Glasgow. Credit: SWPix

Written by
Kirrily Carberry
Disciplines
BMX Freestyle