This weekend, Nantes is hosting the French BMX championships, a sport that consists of performing spectacular tricks on a small bike, all on a bumpy track and at full speed. More than 1200 pilots are expected this weekend, men or women, from all over France, on the ephemeral track of the Beaujoire exhibition center. This Friday, for the last day of training before the championship, several hundred “riders” soar into the air. Many started very young.
First figures at four or five years old
They are also several hundred this Friday, the day before the competition, to wear their BMX to reach the top of the mogul track. 380 meters of land where thrill seekers train before the French championship scheduled for this Saturday. “At four years old, I was already riding a bike without the wheels, says Kylian, 17, who trains at the Carquefou club. “My parents offered me to do BMX, because I was doing well on a bike. I joined a club, and since then I have never stopped”.
This acrobatic sport is especially popular among teenagers and young adults. On average, very few followers are over thirty. Nolan, 18, comes from Grand’landes, in Vendée. He started BMX at the age of 5 and therefore already has 13 years of BMX under his belt… He is training hard for the Coupe de France. He leaves the track out of breath. “On a BMX, anything can happen in one race, he explains. You can lose everything or win everything in the space of a second.”
18 years old and already selected for the France team
The one who has already won almost everything is Pierre Geisse, 18 years old. This young Auvergnat is already part of the French BMX team. Along with Léa Brindjonc, also 18, he is the youngest of the team of 12 riders selected by Julien Sastre. “The fact that I’m still young will allow me to quickly gain experience, says Peter. I will be able to progress even faster with all these experienced drivers around me. The Olympics, I’m not thinking about it yet, I may still be a bit young… Maybe not for 2024, but why not try the 2028 selections.”
While waiting for 2028, Pierre will be on the ephemeral track at the Nantes exhibition center this weekend. And if the Coupe de France takes place this weekend, the World Cup will take place from July 26 to 31. Pierre Geisse, Léa Brindjonc and their teammates will be there for this spectacular competition.