Rio 2016: Olympic BMX test event takes place after alterations to fix unsafe track

The Olympic BMX test event went ahead in Rio de Janeiro on 4 October, after the first run of the two-day event was cancelled due to what athletes had deemed sub-standard and unsafe tracks.

The competitions were cancelled at the last minute on 3 October after riders, including Britains BMX Supercross double World Cup winner, Liam Phillips, said some of the jumps were too dangerous after having trained on the course earlier in the week.

The course was designed by Tom Ritzenthaler, responsible for the BMX tracks in London and Beijing, but athletes felt Rios creation was not in line with previous standards. Phillips wrote on his Instagram account: We shouldnt have to race on such sub-standard tracks.

He added that he felt the sport took a step backwards with the racers refusing to ride but said it had been extremely necessary for the their safety. The mens 400m track remained closed, meaning that both competitions were staged on the womens 372m track.

Among the 90 athletes from 30 countries taking part in the event, many agreed the conditions had improved by 4 October but said further changes would need to be made ahead of next year´s Games.

I think they worked the last 48 hours non-stop to get it as good as possible, and the mens race is way better already, I think a lot of guys have already jumped the whole track. But I think they just finished it this morning, so it is still not really ready for racing, that is why we are riding the girls track right now. It is for us now just trying to stay safe and get some laps in and do a race for the organisation so they can test everything, to make sure that everything is ready for next year, said Dutch BMX cyclist, Niek Kimman, who won a bronze medal in the team boys event of the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics.

Beyond the race course, which spans 4km², the committee tested a total of 28 operational areas, including the judging systems and medical services for a sport famous for its dramatic falls. Speaking at the event, Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes tried to turn the bad news good, saying that the occurrence had proved the organisers ability to adapt.

I mean I think we proved here the capability of adaptation in 24 hours, they asked for some changes. The track was approved by the federation before, so it was ready for like two months, but anyway I think it is good. That is the reason it is so important that we have test events so now things can move on, said Paes.