A 10-strong group of New Zealand BMX Racing riders have headed to USA to compete in the final double round of the UCI BMX Racing World Cup.

The dual rounds in Tulsa, Oklahoma follow on from Rotorua and Brisbane in the shortened season with the Paris Olympic Games looming.

The focus in the elite class is with North Harbour professionals Michael Bias and Rico Bearman, who are 14th and 22nd respectively in overall rankings and will be both chasing finals spots.

Both enjoyed success recently with Bearman competing in the American pro circuit, while Bias on his first French Cup title in Compiegne in northern France.

Rotorua’s Megan Williams and Cambridge teenager Leila Walker will contest the elite women’s competition. Williams has been a consistent quarterfinalist in the four rounds to date in her first entry to the elite ranks, while Walker just missed out on a spot in the final in Brisbane on elite debut.

Bennett Greenough is currently second overall in the under-23 men’s World Cup rankings behind Australian Oliver Moran, after winning the second day final in Rotorua. His participation is in some doubt after an injury in training today, and will await medical advice if he can compete.

His younger brother Jack, who scored his first win at Rotorua, is currently in fourth spot, just one point off third placing.

They are joined by Australian based rider Tasman Wakelin and Auckland’s Finn Cogan (East City) in the under-23 competition.

The Greenough family are well represented with Lily joining brothers Bennett and Jack at Tulsa, racing in the under-23 women’s competition, after injury ruled her out of making her debut in Rotorua. She is joined in Tulsa by Te Awamutu’s Brooke Penny who has made the semifinals in three of the four rounds this year.

Following Tulsa, the qualifying road to Paris ends at the UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Rock Hill, South Carolina in three weeks.

This week’s action starts with round five of the UCI BMX Racing World Cup in Tulsa from 5am on Sunday (NZ time) with finals around 9am, which is repeated for the final round on Monday (NZ time).

The BMX New Zealand riders entered:

Female:

Elite: Megan Williams (Rotorua), Leila Walker (Cambridge).

Under-23: Lily Greenough (Cambridge), Brooke Penny (Te Awamutu);

Male:

Elite: Michael Bias (North Harbour), Rico Bearman (North Harbour).

Under-23: Finn Cogan (East City), Bennett Greenough (Cambridge), Jack Greenough (Cambridge), Tasman Wakelin (Cambridge).