Governing Body for BMX Cycling
1 July 2024
Since the 1980s, BMX racing in the UK has really taken off. With its humble Californian beginnings when riders began racing around dirt tracks with bicycles instead of motorcycles, BMX racing is now huge. Its popularity is reflected in its firm place at the summer Olympics and the numerous other national and international championships.
In the UK today, you’ll unlikely find a town without a pump track and BMX club, which is great for boosting your child into the sport and learning more about how they can progress. However, in the beginning, your child may just want to play around at a pump track without guidance and see if it's for them.
Like all sports, BMX is governed nationally and internationally, and both cover all the cycling categories. Here is a quick guide to each, their role and what they can do for your child.
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)
The UCI is the international governing body for all things cycling globally. The UCI are responsible for watching over the sport, creating and maintaining the rules and resolving issues within the sport. Their headquarters is in Paris, France, and they organise most of the top BMX events, such as the BMX World Championships. They represent and support every cycling discipline at the Olympics, Paralympics and Youth Olympics.
The Union Cycliste Internationale also has a fundamental responsibility to ensure the inclusivity of the sport and that opportunities are available for all athletes, no matter their circumstances. To support this, the UCI has a top training centre where, each year, 300 promising riders, irrespective of their background, are invited to attend courses in their cycling discipline.
As well as ensuring the smooth running of all things cycling at a top level, they also promote and push for people to take up cycling as a recreational activity and encourage them to use it for travel. Their motto, Cycling For All, has created awareness for the global population about the positive links between cycling and the climate.
British Cycling
British Cycling is the governing body for all things cycling in the UK. It is their job to watch over the sport and ensure everything in Great Britain runs smoothly and fairly and is inclusive to the nation. They support regional clubs and schools to promote and inspire newcomers to the sport at a grassroots level and organise and support competitions. Their website contains information about the sport, things your child will need, advice and ways to get your child into the sport. The governing body is also your port of call if something within your region or club isn't working as it should, and they will support you in resolving the issue.
British Cycling is always looking out for rising talent and juniors with what it takes to represent the country in BMX. For those that are, British Cycling will support the process and progression pathway to help their journey with top coaches and, in terms of physical and mental training, to become a professional BMX racer.