Sarasota will host the final two rounds of the 2026 UCI BMX Racing World Cup on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, bringing international competitors to the city's North Tuttle Avenue track for the only U.S. stop on the 10-round circuit.

Rounds 9 and 10 will determine the overall champions in four categories: Men Elite, Women Elite, Men Under 23 and Women Under 23. The races will also award points toward qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, according to Visit Sarasota County.

Sarasota BMX, USA BMX and Visit Sarasota County are partnering to stage the event at 1590 N. Tuttle Ave.

Women's championship race remains close

The Women Elite championship remains tightly contested after eight rounds. The Netherlands' Laura Smulders leads Great Britain's Bethany Shriever by just 11 points, 2,861 to 2,850, according to the International Cycling Union.

Canada's Molly Simpson follows with 2,536 points, while Switzerland's Zoé Claessens has 2,534. The final two rounds in Sarasota will determine the overall standings.

The series previously stopped in France, the Netherlands and China. At the Oct. 10-11 races in Chongli, China, Australia's Joshua Jolly and Switzerland's Cédric Butti won the Men Elite events, while Shriever and Smulders split the Women Elite victories.

American riders also reached the podium. Derin Merten earned silver medals in both Women Under 23 races, while Tommy Bruney took bronze in Men Under 23 during Round 7, according to USA Cycling.

Historic Sarasota track hosts World Cup

Sarasota BMX is the nation's oldest continuously operating BMX racing track, with more than 50 years of history.

The facility underwent upgrades in 2016 to meet international competition standards, including a 26.3-foot starting ramp designed for elite racing. The UCI selected Sarasota to host the World Cup finals in both 2026 and 2027.

"We're incredibly honored to welcome the UCI BMX Racing World Cup finals to Sarasota and to share this moment with the community that has supported Sarasota