Riders fly around the berm at Sarasota BMX during Round 10 of the UCI BMX World Cup. Photo by Wes Roberts.

At speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, the riders at Sarasota BMX over Halloween weekend were positively flying. For those new to the sport, the weekend’s action provided the ultimate entryway into the world of BMX racing. For the first time in a decade, the UCI BMX World Cup—the top level of BMX racing in the world—held its final two rounds of the season at Sarasota BMX. These races brought in the top riders from around the world, and, along with next year’s World Cup rounds here, served as key determinators in Olympic qualification for Los Angeles 2028.

“This is the world-class level of racing, so it’s very exciting,” said Tyler Henry, a professional rider for Factory SYNDYT/Zenith Racing, who rides out of Sarasota. “As a five-year-old kid, this was always the dream.”

Henry, who moved to Sarasota at the start of 2026, was riding in his first ever Men’s Elite level World Cup event. Competing at his home track—the oldest continuously running BMX track in the country—made the weekend all the more meaningful. “I moved here because it’s a fantastic training facility,” said Henry, originally from New Smyrna Beach. “Having the World Cup in my backyard is pretty gnarly.”

BMX racing, however, is a dangerous sport. The 22-year-old Henry suffered a concussion during his second heat of Round 9 on Saturday, rendering him unable to finish the event. Jeremy Smith, a 32-year-old rider out of Myakka City who was selected as an alternate for the U.S. Olympic team in Paris 2024, had more success, finishing fifth in the overall standings at the end of the two days.

The track at Sarasota BMX, Smith explained before race day, is as challenging as they come, worthy of hosting a UCI World Cup event. “We have three big jumps down the first straightaway after the starting gate. A lot of tracks are now only having two jumps, so having three adds a few more obstacles for us,” said Smith. “The third straightaway is also really big and technical. It's easy to either come up short or make a small mistake, so it'll mix up the racing a lot.”

Riders fly around the berm at Sarasota BMX during Round 10 of the UCI BMX World Cup. Photo by Wes Roberts.

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