"Details," "Fundamental," "Basic" - these words echo repeatedly among a Chinese BMX racing team training at the World Cycling Center (WCC), the International Cycling Union (UCI) headquarters.

The eight-member team, composed of five riders, two coaches, and an interpreter, is participating in a four-week camp to learn everything from riding techniques and coaching concepts to track innovations and modern trends in cycling.

"Here we learn the basics. We weren't expected to complete all the tracks and difficult pumps on the first try. We had time to adjust," said rider Gu Quanquan. "These big pumps were intimidating at first, but the coach taught us how to use centrifugal force and fly more parabolically to make them easier. It's all about fundamentals."

Deng Yawen of China competes during the women's park final of cycling BMX freestyle at the Paris Olympics on July 31, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Rider Liu Yongxin agreed, saying, "Before, I focused more on movements but not on the details of my technique. So, I often felt my motions weren't smooth enough and had to make unnecessary stops during my run. Those mistakes cost me speed."

Coach Sun Yue, a former BMX racer who retired two years ago, joined the riders on the track to experience it firsthand.

"Some techniques here don't seem useful for us - they're basics we teach our beginners. But even so, they're still practiced here again and again. I think that's one reason European riders are better," he said.

Dutch rider Twan van Gendt, a former world champion and three-time Olympian, traveled to China to select these athletes. "Physically, they're already quite strong, but they need to learn how to transfer that strength to the BMX bike and be more efficient with the power they've developed. The goal of these four weeks is to focus on basic skills and fundamentals."

Coach Ma Liyun noted that while Chinese riders emphasize speed and strength, European riders excel in control and technique. "Some European riders start BMX as young as four years old, while most Chinese riders don't begin until they're 12 or older, so our training starts differently," Ma explained.

No Chinese rider qualified for BMX racing at this summer's Paris Olympics, and China has yet to win an Olympic medal in the event since it was introduced in 2008. However, BMX is popular at the grassroots level in China, with tracks in many provinces and thousands of children training regularly in cycling clubs.

"We have the strength and power, but we need to improve our coaching concepts," Ma said. "What impressed me most here is learning how to combine physical talent with technical skills. We'll need to do some research back home."

Another aspect that impressed the team was the quality of the track. "UCI has standards for building high-level tracks, but creating a world-class track like this requires experienced engineers and constructors," Coach Ma said. "I have a lot to learn here, not just about riding but about everything."

"The track looked dangerous at first, but it's actually very safe," rider Wang Mengyao said. "The UCI headquarters is beautiful, and the atmosphere here is very positive. I'm really enjoying my stay and training here."

The team stays in an apartment about three kilometers from the UCI headquarters in Aigle, biking to the training center daily. "I love the ride from the apartment to the center. It feels safe and relaxed. No pressure - just enjoying the training and riding," said Liao Wanyi, a rider from Guangdong Province.

All expenses for the camp in Switzerland are covered by the UCI Solidarity Program and each rider's home province. This four-week camp is just the start of collaboration between UCI and the Chinese Cycling Association (CCA).

Jacques Landry, Director of the UCI WCC, noted that they've also invited five Chinese boys to participate and that more Chinese BMX racers will come to UCI for similar training sessions.

"I think the camp is beneficial for them, and I hope to see some of them qualify for LA28 and compete in the Olympics," Landry said. 

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