Van Gendt wins European Cup stage as BMX rivalry hots up

Dutchman Twan van Gendt enjoyed a morale-boosting pre-European Games BMX victory in Denmark, while a batch of Baku-bound women riders showed how close competition is likely to be.

Van Gendt was victorious in the fifth round of the UEC BMX European Cup in Bjerringbro, with three of the top four being cyclists who will compete at the first European Games.

Latvia's Rihards Veide was third and Niklas Lausten of Denmark took fourth place.

Although Venezuelan Stefany Hernandez won both the fifth and sixth rounds of the women's competition, cyclists set for Baku showed their strength.

Six of the top-eight finishers in the fifth round will compete in Azerbaijan, as will four of the top eight in the sixth round.

The Czech Republic's Aneta Hladikova was second in the fifth round, followed by Denmark's Simone Christensen, while Belgian Elke Vanhoof was fifth, Czech Romana Labounkova sixth, Dutch rider Laura Smulders seventh and Latvian Sandra Aleksejeva took eighth place.

Christensen finished second in the sixth round, with Vanhoof jumping to third while Hladikova dropped to sixth and Lithuanian Vilma Rimsaite was eighth.

"I'm really looking forward to the European Games," said Christensen. "I have shown that I am the best European and my self-confidence is where it should be."