The Bader family in front of Gravensteen Castle in Ghent, Belgium. From left: Ace, mom Hannah, Zane, dad Todd and Sage. Photo Provided
Record-breaking heat eclipsed the main event as two of Creswell’s three Bader brothers, Zane, 15, and Sage, 13, competed with Team USA in the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) BMX World Championships, held July in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.
The competition coincided with a dangerous heatwave sweeping Western Europe, shattering previous high-temperature marks in many countries.
Zane and Sage raced on July 25, when temperatures at the track soared to 111.2 degrees – the hottest in Belgium’s history.
With 175 riders in his 13 Challenge class, Sage raced well in his first three motos (rounds) but missed advancing to the main races. Zane, one of 161 riders in his 15 Challenge class, advanced into the main races but was eliminated in the 16ths.
Whether or not the extreme heat played a part, Team USA overall had a lower medal count than anticipated – just seven compared to 35 won by Netherlands riders – and suffered many upsets. ”Even former U.S. Olympic gold medalist, Connor Fields failed to make it to the main race,” said mom Hannah Bader.
Zane and Sage qualified for Worlds by finishing in the top eight at the USA BMX Spring Nationals, a Worlds qualifier held in March in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Younger brother, Ace, 11, narrowly missed qualifying.
Now back home, they’re setting their sights on Worlds 2020.
Follow Zane, Sage and Ace Bader on Instagram @BaderBoysA2Z.
