A BMX cycling qualifying event planned for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in Saudi Arabia was called off on Friday following lethal missile strikes from Yemen. The Urban Cycling World Championships, originally scheduled for November 3-7 in Riyadh, were canceled due to recent attacks on the city’s airport by the Houthi rebel group.
The International Cycling Union announced the cancellation, attributing it to a joint evaluation of the regional situation and its impact on organizing the championships. The decision came after the Australian cycling federation withdrew its team, citing security concerns and the volatile military activities in Riyadh and other parts of the country.
The World Championships were expected to showcase top riders in trials and BMX Freestyle (Park and Flatland). The UCI assured updates on the implications of the cancellation in due course. The event was crucial for determining the participation of two male and two female BMX freestyle park athletes in the 2028 LA Summer Games, where they would compete at the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area. Previously, the event was hosted at Place de la Concorde during the 2024 Paris Olympics.