- Extreme Barcelona is making a historic leap this year. The BMX Freestyle Park competition has been officially upgraded to the UCI Hors Class (HC) category. This promotion places Parc del Fòrum as a strategic stage on the international map, as it will award crucial ranking points for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games qualification.
- We spoke with some of the top international stars to get their thoughts on this new status, their connection to the city, and how the BMX landscape is shifting ahead of the new Olympic cycle.
The Value of UCI Points on the Road to LA28
For most riders, the Hors Class category completely transforms the pressure and appeal of the event. British rider Kieran Reilly, a veteran of the Catalan event with six appearances under his belt, believes this recognition is well deserved: “I think it’s amazing that Extreme Barcelona has been upgraded to a HC event. As a C1 I think it’s been one of if not the biggest and for sure the most fun! Well deserved!”.
Dylan Hessey, who narrowly missed out on gold in 2025 finishing in second place, has his eyes locked on the top spot and the mathematical value of the weekend: “I think this contest being upgraded to HC class is amazing as I’ll be needing as many crucial uci points as I can possibly get to give myself the best chance at making the LA games. This year I’m coming for that top spot!”.
In a similar situation is Jordan Clark, who faces a double challenge in his sporting transition: “Definitely looking to maximise this weekend and take home as many points as possible. This is my first HC event so it will be good to get the points. This isn’t my first time here in Barcelona. I’ve been coming here since 2015 and have made so many amazing memories along the way… It’s all very different for me coming from a scootering background so this is my first Olympic cycle. You just know the level has been raised from last year”.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Natalya Diehm will make her debut on the Barcelona course after years of following the competition on screen, anticipating a high-intensity weekend: “Extremely excited about this! Because of the upgrade on points this will make for a great and competitive competition between the riders which plays in with a great show for the spectators. This will be my first time competing at Extreme Barcelona! I watch it live online every year so I’m excited to finally make it to this event. The course always looks fun and the vibe always looks high”.
A Magnet for International Talent
The category upgrade doesn’t just benefit individual athletes; it raises the overall quality of the competition. Elsa Rendall, returning to Barcelona after winning on her debut last year, highlights this factor: “I think it is cool that the event has been upgraded to HC as this will allow people to earn points so more people might come making it a better competition and experience for all”. German rider Kim Lea Müller, who competed at Parc del Fòrum in 2024, agrees that it represents a golden opportunity to collect key international points.
Routines Pushed to the Limit as the Level “Has Exploded”
The exponential growth of BMX Freestyle in recent years has forced athletes to rethink their training methods ahead of LA28. For Colombia’s Camilo Hurtado, the change is undeniable: “I’m really happy that there are now more events where we can earn points to qualify for the Olympic Games. The way I train and prepare has changed a lot. The level of BMX has improved so much; it’s not the same as it used to be”.
Other riders combine consistency with the search for better infrastructure. This is the case for Kim Lea Müller, who explains the logistical difficulties of her preparation: “My training hasn’t changed much since the last Olympics. I try to travel a lot to different countries like Australia to have good skateparks to train and ride there because we don’t have them in Germany”.
Mental focus and health management also play a decisive role at the start of this cycle. Nikita Ducarroz, returning to Barcelona after missing the 2025 edition, shares her adaptation process following the last Olympic Games: “This new cycle has been interesting as I dealt with health issues after Paris which forced me off the bike for the first time in my career. I’ve had to scale back a lot while keeping in mind the level has absolutely exploded (which is incredible to see). For now I’m finding a new balance of staying healthy while trying to progress and still have fun on my bike, so we will see what the future brings! I’m excited to start the road to LA28 as my third Olympic journey”.