Image source, Bryan Tree BMX Club
- author, Neve Gordon Farley
- role, BBC News, Essex
A young BMX biker has been crowned 16-year-old women’s world champion at the UCI BMX World Championships in the United States.
The event, held in Rock Hill, South Carolina, saw 11 riders from the club compete, three of whom advanced to the finals, and saw the competition attract nearly 3,000 riders from over 40 countries.
“It has been an honour to spend the days racing with them and see these true warriors take to the world stage in difficult conditions,” said the club’s head coach, Julian Allen.
Image source, Braintree BMX Club
It was Friar’s fourth victory, and she will move on to the junior elite division in 2025.
After the race, Freier said, “I knew the results of the qualifying race would be announced by the UCI, so I gave it my all every lap. I couldn’t be happier to win the title.”
“That wasn’t the plan on race day as I wanted to show everything in the final, but that’s racing and I accept it.”
Image source, Bryan Tree BMX Club
The teenager will compete at the European Championships where she will face off against 11-year-old club member Poppy Bishop, who came sixth.
Poppy’s younger sister Holly (9 years old) was the club’s youngest player to reach the final and won the title, ranked seventh in the world.
“True Warrior”
“These girls are incredible and should be so proud of their efforts. I was honoured to spend race day with them and see what true warriors they are, taking to the world stage in difficult conditions,” Allen said.
He said the weather conditions experienced by riders – heavy rain, heat and thunderstorms – were “unexpected”.
“She was serious from the moment she arrived,” he said of 16-year-old Freya.
“Her lap times are comparable to the junior elites and we are excited to see how she performs next year when she moves up to the championship class,” he added.