Cycling: Willers chases double

Marc Willers. Photo / Alan Gibson

Kiwi BMX rider Marc Willers believes with the help of thicker axles he can secure a New Zealand double in the race to be crowned overall series winners at the UCI Supercross World Cup this week.

The US-based Willers is enjoying the best season of his career and sits second in the overall World Cup standings going into the final round of the four-race competition in Chula Vista, California.

With compatriot Sarah Walker leading the women's standings by a commanding 106 points, Willers could claw back the 56 points deficit on current series leader Joris Daudet of France and help secure both the men's and women's overall titles for New Zealand.

Willers, 27, started his World Cup campaign with a disappointing crash in the opening round in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa but bounced back to claim victories in the next two races of the series in Papendal, Holland and London. Victory in Chula Vista will not guarantee him the overall series win, but should he secure a World Cup hat-trick of wins - then he has every chance.

He he has little doubt about what contributed to his stellar season: "My bike has made a big difference. All last year I was getting a few seconds and thirds but this year if I'm not winning, then at least I'm on the podium."

He says new sponsor Speed Bicycles made the decision to construct bigger 20mm axles compared to the 10mm ones used by most the riders.

"Having a thicker axle allows me to put the power down rather than losing that power out of the gate," Willers said. "The power you are putting out is going straight through the ground and this allows you to pedal a lot quicker."

Willers has racked up 11 wins on the circuit this year but was disappointed with the bronze medal behind Daudet at the World Championships in Copenhagen in July.

He said his performance in Denmark has left him "dragging his heart around his ankles". However his triumph in London was on the same course that will be used to host the BMX competition at next summer's Olympics - a victory that put him in a positive frame of mind ahead of the Games, even though the course has come in for some criticism.

"I couldn't ask for better preparation 12 months out from the Olympics, especially after losing the worlds. I think [the course] suits me, but I'm not saying that I like it."