Frenchman Anthony Jeanjean crashed during his two appearances in the BMX Freestyle Park Worlds final on Monday in Scotland, missing his contest and leaving Briton Kieran Reilly to become the first European to claim the rainbow jersey. Under the gray skies of Glasgow, Jeanjean, 25 and three-time European champion (2020, 2021, 2022) missed his two runs on the same figure, falling to the ground after spinning his bike several meters above the ground when jumping.
“I am very disappointed. I did some great training where I succeeded in this trick and I never fell, but that’s how it is in the game”, regretted the rider from Sérignan, in Hérault, in bronze at the last Worlds in the United Arab Emirates and 24th in the final standings this year. In the heart of the green park of Glasgow Green, the wind and the cold played the spoilsports during the men’s competition, won with panache by the Briton Kieran Reilly, ahead of the Australian Olympic champion Logan Martin and the American Nick Bruce.
Not enough to justify his downfalls, according to Jeanjean, who was aiming for gold in Scotland. “I’ve experienced conditions like that before so it’s part of the game. You have to know how to adapt. It didn’t help but I don’t blame it. It’s me who made the mistake, “said the Héraultais, 3rd after qualifying the day before. Already titled European champion in Poland in June, the young Kieran Reilly, author of a spectacular run rated 95.8 by the judges, crushed the competition even before the start of the last six runners.
“I took risks and it paid off. I’m really happy to be the first European to win the rainbow jersey,” said the 22-year-old cyclist. “With Anthony, we are rivals and both competitors, but that pushes us to give the best of ourselves,” he added to the address of the French.
One year before the Paris Games, the BMX Freestyle Park event of these World Championships was a major test for Anthony Jeanjean. The Héraultais is one of the rare riders of the Old Continent to be able to worry the Australians and the Americans, historically dominant in this spectacular discipline. “It was an important step for me but I remain focused on Paris-2024 which is my priority and which I keep in mind in all competitions,” said Jeanjean. “All that remains is to return home to continue working. I will be ready,” he warned.