Ryan Tougas, a world-class cyclist from Pitt Meadows, has been named to the national team for the 2025 UCI BMX Racing World Championships.
The event is happening this weekend, Aug. 2 and 3, in Copenhagen, Denmark, with riders out to win a coveted rainbow jersey given to UCI World Champions.
Tougas, 23, who will race in the Elite Men category. He is one of 13 riders on the team, including Elite, U23 and Junior racers, headed for the Danish capital.
Last year, he was the top Canadian finisher at this event, placing 12th in his class at the worlds in South Carolina.
A press release from Cycling Canada noted he will be leading the charge for the national team as "a consistent international threat who is looking to breakout in Copenhagen."
The team will be led by veteran coach Adam Muys of Maple Ridge, who has coached the Canadian squad through the past three Olympic Games and numerous other competitions.
The French are considered the favourites in the Elite Men Category, but there are talented competitors from Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand, and the U.S.
More than 3,300 riders from 50 nations, and 7,000 spectators are expected in Copenhagen for the BMX worlds.
After the BMX racing competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the popularity of the discipline has hit new records.
France has the largest delegation in Copenhagen this week (449 athletes), followed by the Netherlands (331), Great Britain (318), the USA (311) and hosts Denmark (235), all contributing to the total of 3,317 registered riders.
