Three BMX riders from St. Albert are preparing to compete as part of Team Canada at the 2025 UCI BMX World Championships.
Payton Duffy, Marquez Gonzalez and Brady Mitschke will head to Copenhagen, Denmark, where they'll face off against top riders from around the globe from July 28 to August 3.
All three riders have their eyes on a top-eight finish, which would earn them a world plate. The world plate is the highest number plate you can earn in the sport.
For 16-year-old Duffy, it's her second time at Worlds. She has been riding for eight years and got into the sport after tagging along with her brother to the track.
"My brother wanted to do BMX, and so I just went to the track one day, and then I started doing it," she said.
She now trains six days a week, fitting in track, sprint and gym sessions around her schedule.
"I really want top eight," she said. "I'm proud to represent Canada, and super excited to be there."
Duffy said she's excited to race athletes from other countries and loves the challenge of BMX as an individual sport.
"It's freeing, and it's fun," she said. "I like that I can put in the work and see results."
Seventeen-year-old Gonzalez is heading to Worlds for the first time. Originally from Penticton, B.C., he started racing at a young age after his parents found a local track. Now in St. Albert, he's focused on preparing for his biggest competition yet.
"It's a lot of emotions, nerve-wracking," he said. "It's a big game, all the world athletes, and not a lot of people go, but you have the fastest riders out there and you have to perform, and you have to perform at your best."
Gonzalez trains daily, combining yoga, gym workouts, reaction drills, sprints, and time on the track.
"From a young age, it feels amazing to represent Canada," he said. "My goal is to end up on the podium, but definitely aiming for top eight."
Fourteen-year-old Mitschke is the most experienced of the three in world competitions, heading to the UCI BMX World Championships for the third time. He placed eighth his first year and sixth the second, and this year he's hoping to move up again.
"I'm more excited than nervous," he said. "I just really want to do better than I did this past year."
Mitschke trains multiple times a week, balancing gym and track work with recovery days. After a packed stretch of summer races, he's focusing on reaching his peak condition in time for Denmark.
He said having his coach and teammates by his side has been key to his success.
"I feel honoured to qualify and be able to represent Canada," he said. "I want to prove that Canada's up there in the standings."
All three riders will be supported by their families and coaches during the event. They are racing toward a shared goal of earning a world championship plate and securing a spot among the top eight BMX riders in their class.
