Chula Vista, Calif. (Sept. 19, 2009) – Olympic gold medalist Maris Strombergs (LAT) displayed his dominance in his first supercross race since the Olympic Games winning round three of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup, presented by Swatch in Chula Vista, California on Saturday. Australian Sam Willoughby earned the silver while American Connor Fields (Henderson, Nev.) grabbed the bronze. Olympic silver medalist Laetitia Le Corguille (FRA) brought home the women’s victory ahead of Columbia’s Mariana Pajon and American Arielle Martin (Pleasant Grove, Utah/GT).

 

Strombergs put on a dominant performance on the Beijing Olympic replica track winning each of his heats as well as his quarter and semi final rounds. Willoughby, winner of round #2 of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in South Africa, used consistency advancing through each round with ease. 

 

In the final Strombergs got a great jump out of his lane one start position, grabbing the all-important holeshot heading into the first turn. Once the powerful Latvian opened up a lead it was nearly impossible for anyone to pass. Willoughby held in second on the fast, big air course to grab the silver just ahead of the 17-year-old American Fields. 

 

“I did what I had to do,” said Strombergs. “It’s crazy these young kids coming up. I look forward to continue to compete with these guys.” 

 

Olympic silver medalist Mike Day (Santa Clarita, Calif./GT) rode strong all day, including an impressive pass of Willoughby in the semis, but a bad start out of the final gate caused him a fifth-place finish in the finals. After stellar performances throughout the preliminary rounds, one bad gate caused world champion Donny Robinson’s (Napa, Calif./Hyper) elimination in the semi-final round. Overall, the Americans fared well on their home turf claiming seven of 16 semi-final spots and four of eight spots in the finals, as well as a pair of medals. 

 

In the women’s final, Le Corguille got a jump out of the gate and immediately opened up a small lead on the powerful field. After a dicey middle straight, the Olympic silver medalist then held off BMX junior world champion Pajon and 2008 supercross champion Martin for the win.

 

“I feel amazing,” stated Le Corguille. “It was a very good race. It was tough, but I am very happy.”

 

A crowd of approximately 3,000 took in all the action on the campus of the United States Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California. The majority of the day’s competitors look toward the final stage of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup in Frejus, France on October, 9-10.

UCI Supercross World Cup #3

Chula Vista, California

Men’s Final Results
1. Maris Strombergs (LAT) 34.843

2. Sam Willoughby (AUS) 35.528

3. Connor Fields (USA) 35.567

4. Ivo Van der Putter (NED) 36.188

5. Mike Day (USA) 36.430

6. Tyler Brown (USA) 36.530

7. Nicholas Long (USA) 36.746

8. Marcus Bloomfield (GBR) 37.070

Women’s Final Results

1. Laetitia Le Corguille (FRA) 37.668

2. Mariana Pajon (COL) 37.734

3. Arielle Martin (USA) 38.531

4. Merle van Bentem (NED) 38.988

5. Brooke Crain (USA) 39.740

6. Amanda Geving (USA) 40.873

7.  Alise Post (USA) 41.9892

8. Lauren Reynolds (AUS) 1:11.661

For full results, visit www.uci.ch