The Latvian Maris Strombergs and the Colombian Mariana Pajon they triumph in London. Both dominate their respective finals, nothing to be done for Sam Willoughby and Sarah Walker who came behind them. The surprise of the day is the bronze won by the Dutch Laura Smulders, 19 years old in her first year at Elite! In the Men's Elite the bronze goes to the Colombian Carlos Oquendo Zabala.
Source: bmxr.it
Strombergs achieved a great feat by repeating his success in Beijing 2008. The Latvian was spared in the semi-finals (4-4-2), reaching the final in great physical condition. There was nothing for the others to do from the first straight, only Willoughby remained at his wheel trying everything in the 3rd straight but without success.
The disappointed: Dutch, French and Americans left empty-handed! Great race for the orange team who placed vd. Biezen and van Gendt in the final with strong medal hopes, given the excellent placings in the previous stages. For them, however, "only" 4th and 5th place. Nothing to do for Connor Fields either, his race was an uphill battle right from the start, closed by a van Gendt in amazing condition. The French were even out of the final, with Joris Daudet practically never entering the race (6-3-7 for him in the three semi-final heats). Marc Willers (8-8-dns) does even worse.
Among the women, a perfect race for Mariana Pajon who did not lose a heat, recording the best overall time in the final. Walker is satisfied as she makes up for her 4th place in Beijing. The young Smulders is in disbelief, author of a textbook second turn in the final which gives her the podium.
Disappointed: the French Pottier and Le Corguillè, left empty-handed after the double in Beijing. In tears Caroline Buchanan seemed to be Pajon's most fearsome opponent, but she ruined everything with a disastrous start in the final. Finally Shanaze Reade, one of the favourites, after three excellent semi-final heats (2-1-2) is unable to enter the fight for the medals.
Manuel De Vecchi was quite dejected for what he had announced would be his last international race and from which he definitely expected more:
“Hi everyone, this was the worst race of my life! In the first heat I started badly but I managed to get into the first corner, then we all crashed. Here I gave 100% on all the climbs (in the pro-section and following) to finish 2nd. This effort destroyed my legs! No excuses.
In the 2nd heat they didn't run like before, they were slower than usual: they held up until halfway down the track, but from the third straight they completely blocked. I'm so sorry!!! Sorry everyone for the poor result! I gave it my all, but there was nothing to be done."
| EL-M | ||
 |  Maris STROMBERGS | 37.576 |
 |  Sam WILLOUGHBY | + 0.353 |
 |  Carlos OQUENDO | + 0.675 |
| 4 |  Raymon Van Der Biezen | + 0.916 |
| 5 | Twan Van Gendt | + 7.168 |
| 6 | Eduardo Caicedo | + 15.801 |
| 7 |  Connor Fields | + 25.457 |
| 8 |  Liam Phillips | + 1'34.342 |
| EL W | ||
| Mariana PAJON | 37.706 |
| Sarah WALKER | + 0.427 |
| Laura Smulders | + 0.525 |
| 4 |  Laetitia Le Courguille | + 0.770 |
| 5 | Caroline Buchanan | + 1.197 |
| 6 | Shanaze Reade | + 1.541 |
| 7 | Magalie Pottier | + 1.689 |
| 8 | Brook Crain | + 2.580 |
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