The 2019 Qiansen Cup UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Level 1 and the 2019 Qiansen Cup UCI BMX Racing World Cup Level 1 will grandly kick off between August and September.

Cyclo-cross

Cyclo-cross originated in Europe in the 19th century and was initially a training event for Tour de France champions. After more than a hundred years of development, it has become a classic professional sport and is also a discipline that the UCI is actively promoting for inclusion in the Winter Olympics. The cyclo-cross course features elevation changes within 15 meters and combines elements of road cycling and cross-country running. Competitors navigate hills, grasslands, streams, and gravel paths, with courses typically ranging from 2.4 to 3.5 kilometers in length. Depending on the difficulty of the course, athletes must complete 7 to 10 laps, allowing spectators to witness their skills multiple times throughout the race.

Since the Qiansen Group introduced the professional cyclo-cross event to China in 2013, after years of development, the 2018 edition was held in Aohan Banner, Inner Mongolia—a city known for many titles including “Hometown of Millet,” “Birthplace of 8,000-Year-Old Dragon Culture,” and “Origin of Chinese Jade Culture.” The 7th Qiansen Cup UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Level 1 in 2019 will commence as scheduled on September 1. Top international professional cyclists from 20 countries and 40 teams around the world will compete fiercely in Aohan.

Dutch rider Gosse van der Meer

The 24-year-old Dutch elite rider Gosse van der Meer has won multiple international championships, including both the Aohan and Fengfeng stops of the 2018 Qiansen Cup last year.

Spanish rider Ada Palacio Nuno

The 34-year-old Spanish veteran Ada Palacio Nuno has claimed six Spanish national titles and four consecutive Spanish Cup championships, making her a legendary figure in the international cyclo-cross scene who remains at the peak of her game.

Belgian rider Joyce Vanderbeken

Also a seasoned competitor, Belgian athlete Joyce Vanderbeken, who proves that “you’re never too old to chase your dreams,” also won the elite women’s title at the French Cup cyclo-cross last year.

BMX Racing

BMX originated in the United States in the 1960s and quickly captured the hearts of young people with its thrilling, exciting, and cool style, subsequently becoming popular worldwide. In the 1990s, BMX racing was officially recognized by the UCI, and in 2008, it made its Olympic debut as a new event at the Beijing Olympics. Additionally, BMX freestyle will make its first major appearance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

From August 17 to 18, the 2019 Qiansen Cup UCI BMX Racing World Cup Level 1 Aohan stop is part of the 2020 Olympic qualification series. At China’s only current Olympic-level BMX racing venue—the Aohan Banner International BMX Stadium—elite BMX racers from around the world will compete alongside the Chinese national team. Chinese rider Lu Yan, the top female rider in Asia, will fight for a spot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The BMX racing field features a star-studded lineup, including over 50 international athletes from around the world, with 12 of the world’s top 10 male and female riders all set to appear in Aohan.

Dutch rider Nick Kooijman

On the men’s side, the world No. 1 Dutch rider Nick Kooijman has astonishingly swept 14 international titles this year alone, including European Cup and World Cup events. He is also the men’s elite champion of the 2018 Qiansen Cup Aohan stop, making him a truly deserving elite in the global cycling scene today.

French rider Dylan Trottier

The world No. 2 French rider, 28-year-old Dylan Trottier, won the opening round of the 2019 World Cup and has already secured seven titles so far this year, showing increasingly strong form.

French rider Sylvain André

The world No. 3 French elite rider Sylvain André won the 2018 UCI BMX Racing World Championships. He narrowly missed the podium at the last Aohan stop, but this year he aims to prove himself with solid performance.

British rider White Kay

The world No. 8 British elite rider White Kay won the first round of the 2019 UCI BMX Racing World Cup and took third place in the first round of the 2019 UEC European Cup. A highly skilled rider, he is sure to challenge for the podium at this Qiansen Cup.

Australian rider Kamikaze Shimohara

The world No. 10 Australian elite rider Kamikaze Shimohara won two titles in 2019: the Oceania Championships and the second round of the National Series. He also took second place in the eighth round of the UEC European Cup. A highly capable rider, he will aim for a higher world ranking at this event.

Dutch rider Laura Smulders

On the women’s side, the world No. 1 Dutch rider Laura Smulders claimed the 2018 World Championship title along with an impressive 300 points, and she was also the women’s elite champion at the 2018 Qiansen Cup Aohan stop. She maintained excellent form in 2019, having already won 12 major international titles.

Dutch rider Pauline Jutras

The world No. 3 Dutch rider Pauline Jutras won three national titles in 2018, took the championship at the third round of the 2019 UCI BMX Racing World Cup, and came in second at the first round. Her biggest rival in this event is fellow Dutch rider Laura. Whether she can secure her second title of 2019 at this Qiansen Cup is something we’re all eager to see.

Danish rider Kris Tingesen Simon

The world No. 4 Danish rider, Kris Tingesen Simon, won three championships in 2019: the first leg of the 2019 UCI BMX Racing World Cup, the women’s elite category at the 2019 Danish National Championships, and the women’s elite category at the 2019 Prague Kings Pro 1. In the 2018 Qiansen Cup Aohan Station, she took second place!

Australian rider Kamihara Saya

The world No. 6 Australian elite rider Kamihara Saya had an outstanding performance in 2018 and 2019. She won the 8th leg of the 2018 UCI BMX Racing World Cup in 2018, and in 2019, she claimed titles at the 7th leg of the UEC European Cup, the Oceania Championships, and earned runner-up honors at the 1st and 3rd legs of the 2019 UEC European Cup. With her strong recent form, Kamihara Saya is sure to shine at this Qiansen Cup.

American rider Stacey Felicia

The world No. 7 American elite rider Stacey Felicia had an excellent 2019 season, securing three championships and four runner-up finishes. We look forward to her great performance at the Qiansen Cup.

Dutch rider Smolders Mera

The world No. 9 Dutch top rider Smolders Mera is the younger sister of current world No. 1 Smolders Laura. In 2019, she took second place at the 4th and 8th legs of the UEC European Cup, and in 2018, she finished third in the women’s elite category at the Qiansen Cup Aohan Station. We’re excited to see her aim for even greater achievements at this year’s Qiansen Cup!

French rider Marie Camille

The world No. 10 French top rider Marie Camille achieved impressive results in 2019, winning the 2019 Indoor BMX Racing Women’s Elite Category Championship and taking second place in the 2019 French Cup Women’s Elite Category. At last year’s Qiansen Cup Aohan Station Women’s Elite Category, she placed sixth. We believe her return to Aohan this year will see her striving for an even higher ranking!

A host of elite riders will be making their appearances in Aohan. This edition of the competition promises intense battles, a high level of competition, and remarkable excitement. Check out the official promotional video of this event below—let’s take a look!