Indy Erich adds to Australia’s ‘W’ plate tally on Day 2 of UCI BMX World Challenge

Australia has added another ‘W’ plate to its overall tally on the second day of racing at the BMX World Challenge in Rock Hill, USA, with Indy Erich (Ashmore BMX) taking fourth place in the Girls 10 category.

After yesterday’s brilliant conditions, temperatures dropped back into the low 20s on Monday, with intermittent showers also adding a layer of difficulty to the racing.

Starting from Gate 8 in the Girls 10 final, Erich avoided a crash on the first turn to be snapping at the heels of the top three throughout the middle of the race. However, the riders from Japan and the USA held off their rivals to lock out the podium, with Erich close behind in fourth.

Despite missing the podium, Erich was nonetheless elated with her ‘W’ plate.

“(It’s) great to be the World 4, and I did not know I was going to get it,” Erich said.

“I was very excited (throughout the day) about if I was going to make the final, and I did. I was very happy.”

Erich said the best part of the day was the experience of racing and getting on stage to collect her trophy, before also recognising those that helped her achieve the result.

“I would like to thank all my friends for cheering me on and my mum and dad for bringing me here and to cheer me on, and just for the competition from the other girls and all the workers here.”

Elsewhere, Nicole Thomson (Big Rivers BMX) narrowly missed the final of the Cruiser Women 30-39, finishing 5th in her semi-final, and Australia was also unlucky to not have a finalist in Cruiser Men 30-34, with two riders – Matthew Blake (Bunbury BMX) and Josh Nash (Cairns BMX) – bowing out in their semi-final.

BMX World Challenge Day 2 Finals - Results

Girls 10

Indy Erich (Ashmore BMX) – 4th

More than 3000 athletes from 41 nations will compete in the BMX Racing World Challenge at the 2024 UCI BMX Racing World Championships this week.

Tomorrow’s racing continues with the 11, 12, 13, 14 Girls and Boys, and the 15 Girls categories.

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Images: AusCycling