Only surpassed by Japan’s Rim Nakamura (95.10 points), the United States team completed the podium at the Montpellier 2026 BMX Freestyle World Cup, thanks to Justin Dowell (silver with 93.55) and Marcus Christopher (bronze with 92.60). Olympic champion José Torres of Argentina finished fourth with 90.00.
Twelve of the 24 semifinalists advanced to the final, and the Americas also achieved notable performances with Costa Rica’s Kenneth Tencio, who finished seventh (86.60), while another American, Jacob Thiem, finished tenth with 53.00 points.
The Americas had qualified 11 athletes for the penultimate round, and five of them reached the final, which was filled with tension, unexpected falls, and a demanding evaluation by the judges, who ultimately crowned Japan’s Nakamura as champion.
“Every time I return to a World Cup, the challenge is enormous. After the fall I suffered in training, I even thought I wouldn’t be able to continue competing. I did, and I managed to reach a final, which excites me immensely. Out of 72 athletes from around the world, only 12 of us made it to the final, and I came close to the podium with a fourth-place finish, which for me is wonderful,” acknowledged Argentine Olympic champion José Torres.
For his part, Costa Rican Tencio declared: “I’m very happy with the result, with the great feeling of reaching the final. The goal was achieved. We gained valuable ranking points and the confidence that we’re on the right track. Now I’ll travel to the Red Bull training center in Vienna, Austria, to continue preparing for the upcoming World Cup events.”
The World Cup is an international circuit consisting of four stages. This one in Montpellier is the first, and it takes place within the framework of the renowned International Festival of Extreme Sports (FISE). The other stages of the World Cup will be in Birmingham, USA (August 6-9); Shanghai, China (October 15-18); and at a venue to be confirmed (November 26-29).
