Katagiri Wins BMX Flatland World Cup at Birmingham

Yu Katagiri of Japan won the men's UCI BMX Freestyle Flatland World Cup round at FISE Birmingham. The victory arrived on 9 August 2026 in Alabama, under the summer heat of a festival that brings together action sports from across the world.

A clean run when it counted

The final played out on a flat surface that offers no ramps and no margin for error. Katagiri stitched together a technical sequence of spins and balances, keeping every transition controlled as the rest of the field pushed harder and stumbled. By the end of his run, he had built a lead that held firm against the closing riders.

Two familiar names behind him

Katagiri topped a podium shared with fellow Japanese rider Yu Shoji in second and Canadian Jean William Prevost in third. Both rivals arrived with deep resumes, yet Katagiri's composure on the day proved decisive. His riding showed the patience and precision that flatland demands at World Cup level.

The FISE Birmingham event marks the first UCI World Cup round win of Katagiri's career. It comes in a season where flatland continues to gain visibility on the global circuit, and it places him among the riders who can challenge at any venue.

On a stage where a single wobble can undo two minutes of work, Katagiri stayed smooth from start to finish. His name now sits on a short list of World Cup winners in the discipline.