A qualifying event for BMX cycling at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in Saudi Arabia was called off on Friday due to deadly missile attacks originating from Yemen. The Urban Cycling World Championships, scheduled for November 3-7 in Riyadh, were affected by recent bombings at the city’s airport by the Houthi rebel group.
The International Cycling Union announced the cancellation of the championships after assessing the regional developments and their logistical implications. The decision was influenced by the security concerns arising from the conflict in the area.
The Australian cycling federation withdrew its team on the same day, citing security warnings related to the ongoing military actions and retaliatory strikes throughout the country, including Riyadh. AusCycling expressed concerns about the safety of their athletes and staff in light of the volatile situation.
The UCI, headquartered in Switzerland, highlighted that the championships were intended to showcase top riders in trials and BMX Freestyle (Park and Flatland). They pledged to provide updates soon regarding the implications of the event’s cancellation on the sporting community.
The BMX freestyle park competition at the canceled event was crucial for determining two male and two female athletes who would have secured spots in the 2028 LA Summer Games lineup. The BMX freestyle park riders are now gearing up to compete at the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area in Los Angeles, a change from the 2024 Paris Olympics where the event was held at Place de la Concorde.
