USA Cycling announced today the athletes that will be representing the United States at the 2022 UCI Urban World Championships in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, November 9-13, 2022.
The team has had major success at these World Championships since the inaugural event in 2017. Since then, USA Cycling has stood on the podium in every BMX Freestyle Park event for Men and Women with Hannah Roberts (Buchanan, Mich.; Hyper BMX), Perris Benegas (Reno, Nev.; Haro BMX), and Justin Dowell (Virginia Beach, V.A.; Hyper BMX) all winning World titles.
Defending Champion Roberts is looking for her fourth World title after winning the most recent World Cup in Brussels. National Champion Benegas also has a chance at her second set of rainbow stripes after placing second to Roberts in Brussels. Angie Marino (Buffalo, N.Y.; Cult Crew), Chelsea Wolfe (Lake Park, Fla.; GT Bicycles), and Cory Coffey (Ojai, Calif.) will also be ready to throw down their new tricks for the championship. Newcomer to the scene is 17-year-old Bethany Hedrick (Ft. Mitchell, Ky.; GT Bicycles) who has been making a name for herself in the USA BMX Freestyle Amateur series and is looking to make the jump to the pro class and compete in her first international event.
Dowell will be a favorite going into the World Championships after taking two silver medals in his first season competing in the X-Games. Daniel Sandoval (Corona, Calif.; Free Agent Bikes) is no stranger to the Worlds podium either, placing second in the event last year. 19-year-old Marcus Christopher (Canton, Ohio, DK Bicycles) will compete in his first World Championships after winning his first Elite National Championships earlier this year. Brian Fox (Commerce, Ga.; Woodward Camp), Jacob Thiem (Kennard, Neb.; Free Agent Bikes), and Bryce Tryon (Lodi, Calif.; Free Agent Bikes) have also been making big strides in their riding this year and will cap off the season at the World Championships and the last World Cup in Australia in December.
Additionally, the flatland crew will be returning to the World Championships with a team of Terry Adams (Hammond, La.), Lindsey Bode (Kailua, Hawaii), David (Bo) Wade (Redondo, Calif.), and Matt Wilhelm (Naperville, Ill.).
BMX Freestyle Park
Elite Women
Perris Benegas (Reno, Nev.; Haro BMX)
Cory Coffey (Ojai, Calif.)
Bethany Hedrick (Ft. Mitchell, Ky.; GT Bicycles)
Angie Marino (Buffalo, N.Y.; Cult Crew)
Hannah Roberts (Buchanan, Mich.; Hyper BMX)
Chelsea Wolfe (Lake Park, Fla.; GT Bicycles)
Elite Men
Marcus Christopher (Canton, Ohio; DK Bicycles)
Justin Dowell (Virginia Beach, V.A.; Hyper BMX)
Brian Fox (Commerce, Ga.; Woodward Camp)
Daniel Sandoval (Corona, Calif.; Free Agent Bikes)
Jacob Thiem (Kennard, Neb.; Free Agent Bikes)
Bryce Tryon (Lodi, Calif.; Free Agent Bikes)
BMX Freestyle Flatland
Elite Men
Terry Adams (Hammond, La.)
Lindsey Bode (Kailua, Hawaii)
David (Bo) Wade (Redondo, Calif.)
Matt Wilhelm (Naperville, Ill.)
