CYCLING: Wallwork and Lessmann surprise in Chengdu

Germany's BMX Freestyle star Lara Lessmann

The seasonal titles in the 2018 UCI BMX Freestyle World Cup were on the line in Chengdu (CHN), and surprises were the order of the day.

Germany’s Lara Lessmann, 18, came into the event trailing American Hannah Roberts, 17, by just 30 points in the women’s competition. Roberts win the semifinal round with a 89.80 score, with Lessmann fifth at 83.80. But in the final, Lessmann was steady, again scoring 83.80, but Roberts was hampered by an ankle injury and could manage only 81.20, giving Lessmann her first win of the season.

In the men’s Freestyle final, it was unheralded Jake Wallwork of Australia, who ha 16th and 50th in his two World Cup starts this season, winning with a final-round performance scored at 90.20. He edged American Dennis Enarson, who had only one start on the circuit this season (a third), who scored 90.00. “I can’t actually believe I won it,” said Wallwork afterwards.

Summaries:

UCI Freestyle World Cup
Chengdu (CHN) ~ 2-4 November 2018
(Full results here)

Men: 1. Jake Wallwork (AUS), 90.20; 2. Dennis Enarson (USA), 90.00; 3. Declan Brooks (GBR), 87.40; 4. Jack Clark (GBR), 86.20; 5. Marin Rantes (CRO), 84.90.

Women: 1. Lara Lessmann (GER), 83.80; 2. Hannah Roberts (USA), 81.20; 3. Nikita Ducarroz (SUI), 77.40; 4. Perris Benegas (USA), 7.20; 5. Oike Minato (JPN), 76.80.