Major UEC BMX European Championships Held in Valmiera – 1248 Riders from 23 Countries and 21 Medals for Latvia

From July 11 to 13, Valmiera hosted the European Cycling Union’s (UEC) BMX European Championships, gathering 1248 athletes from 23 countries. It became the largest BMX event ever held in Latvia.

The Māris Štrombergs BMX Track “Valmiera” has become one of the most important BMX centers not only in Latvia but also on an international level. The 330-meter-long track is equipped with two starting hills (8 m and 5 m) and three starting gates (8 m, 5 m, and 3 m), enabling high-level races across various rider categories.

In the men’s elite class, French BMX riders dominated. The winner was Mathis Ragot-Richard, followed by last year’s European champion Arthur Pilard in second place, and Sylvain André in third place, who won a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. In the women’s elite race, victory went to Beth Shriever from Great Britain — the 2020 Tokyo Olympic champion and two-time world champion. Second and third place were taken by the multiple-time World and European medalists, sisters Merel and Laura Smulders from the Netherlands.

Latvian athletes earned a total of 21 medals, including two elite European champion titles — Kristers Apels and Veronika Monika Stūriška — allowing Latvia’s national anthem to be heard on home soil.

Artis Ozols, Executive Director of the Latvian Cycling Federation, emphasized:

“The large number of participants was both an honor and a challenge for us as organizers, ensuring three days of equally high-quality competition. It required wide community involvement, so sincere thanks to the Valmiera club ‘BMX Valmiera,’ the Valmiera Olympic Center, the Valmiera Municipality, and the Latvian Cycling Federation for their dedicated teamwork. This weekend not only showcased the excellence of our athletes but also demonstrated how professional organization, cooperation, and human enthusiasm can create a high-quality and memorable event.”

Valmiera turned this championship into a true BMX celebration for the entire community. The BMX spirit filled the city — local businesses and the tourism sector actively participated in creating a festive atmosphere. Track supervisors, volunteers, referees, medical staff, technical crews, and media representatives all played invaluable roles in ensuring the event ran smoothly, safely, and professionally.

The inspiration and foundation for this event is undoubtedly the sporting legacy of Māris Štrombergs — his achievements and influence have enabled Valmiera to establish a world-class BMX center and become the home of Europe’s biggest BMX event this summer.

During the championship, an oak tree was planted near the BMX track — a symbolic gift from the European Cycling Union to Valmiera, representing a contribution to reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.

This was already the second European Championship held in Valmiera — the first took place in 2019, shortly after the track’s grand opening.

A conceptual agreement has now been reached with the European Cycling Union (UEC) to host another BMX European Championship in Latvia in 2031, confirming Valmiera’s and Latvia’s ability to host top-level international sporting events.

For his significant contribution to the development of the Olympic movement, the President of the Latvian Olympic Committee, Raimonds Lazdiņš, awarded the Golden Badge of Honor to Jānis Matisons. Thanks to his dedication and enthusiasm, the SCO CENTRS BMX track was built in 2001 in “Avoti,” providing training and competition opportunities that helped Latvian BMX riders achieve success in Europe and worldwide. In 2008, three riders from the BMX club “Tālava” qualified for the Beijing Olympics — Artūrs Matisons, Ivo Lakučs, and Māris Štrombergs, who went on to win the first Olympic gold medal in BMX racing. Even today, the BMX track in “Avoti” remains a key training facility in the Valmiera region for children, youth, adults, and elite BMX athletes, and it continues to host stages of the Latvian Cup.

The event was created in collaboration with Mission Latvia