The UCI 2005 World BMX Championships were held at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy ( Paris-Bercy Sports Stadium.) The stadium is located on the banks of the Seine River in the Bercy district in the south east of Paris. (grey area on map)
Pete Wolfinger (55+ Cruiser class) was kind enough to send me most of the pictures (and leave his comments on the images), and I did a little Googling to place BM"X" on the map.
Main entrance to the stadium: it looks a little rickety, no fear though, the French have a penchant for the unfinished look. I need to ask Pete if he saw many Americans asking where they could make donations (French-Architecture-Disaster fund?) to get the building completed. I believe the French got the roof fixed at the Paris airport (it collapsed in May 2004.) Actually I love the French, they just don't have my sense of humor! I wonder if people still play tic-tac-toe (stay off the grass!) with the Gendarmes near the Eiffel tower? Such fun! There is a famous Modern Art Museum (called the Centre Georges Pompidou) that they consider a marvel of innovation and engineering - all the plumbing and wiring is on the outside. I thought it looked like an oil refinery, it's all perception and attitude. What do I know, I ave no culture! Actually, Paris has many beautiful buildings and art, but this trip was all about business, BMX business.
Track layout: check out that NASCAR-style first turn. It was critical to be on the inside for this turn (a one line drag race.)
Double before the first turn: this jump was lipped up and deep, if you couldn't jump it, you were in for a rough ride because it was too deep to manual.
Doesn't look too bad: the Pros make it look easy. They also want that inside line, though.
If I can't have the inside, nobody can: if you weren't on the chalk line at the start of the first turn you ate dust. There were lots of crashes here - symptom of a one-line turn.
Big crowd: they were noisy, enthusiastic and had plenty of air-horns.
BMXers are friendly people: Pete's new friend from New Zealand. Pete said that the trip was a fantastic experience.
Team USA: most of the USA team. USA dominated the Men's Elite, Bubba Harris got World # 1 plate.
Can you give me a ride to the airport? Pete with his bike bag, the 2006 UCI Worlds will be in Brazil, will you be there?
