/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/02/24/3903022-79293213-2560-1440.jpg "BMX | Manon Veenstra is also on the podium in Australia, sitting second in the World Cup standings")
The 25-year-old BMX driver was a little slow at the start, but managed to stay ahead of the race thanks to a good starting position. After the first turn she was in third place. Which she did not give up after that.
The victory went to Swiss Zoe Claessens, who achieved her first victory this season. Australian Saya Sakibara came in second place. Laura Smulders, who finished on the podium in the first competition of the season, missed the competition in Australia.
There is no Dutchman in the final
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BMX | Isaac Kennedy gets the home crowd to cheer in victory
Among the men, no Dutchman was able to qualify for the final. Of the four Dutchmen who participated, only Dave van der Burgh managed to qualify for the semi-finals. The sixth came. While only a place in the top four qualifies you for a place in the final.
In that final match, victory went to Australian Isaac Kennedy. He managed to entertain the rain-soaked home crowd with a dominating run. Ross Cullen from Great Britain and Jeremy Smith from the United States made sure that the entire theater was English-speaking.
During the halfway point
The World Cup tour is halfway over after two competitions in Rotorua, New Zealand. This will be followed by another match tomorrow in Brisbane. In May, the drivers will travel to Tulsa, America, where the final two races are scheduled to be held.
The World Cup is important to qualify for the Olympic Games. World Cup points are added up for each country and this determines how many participants can go to Paris. The Netherlands now ranks fourth among men, which means it could start with Dutch participants. Among women, the Netherlands tops the Olympic rankings. This gives you three places to start.
