Cambridge teenager Lily Greenough braved the wet conditions to claim the junior women’s title at the 2025 UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Copenhagen.
Lily Greenough in action… and on the podium at world championship in Copenhagen. Photo: Cole McOnie.
In the treacherous conditions, the 17-year-old rode with a maturity beyond her years to dominate the junior women’s competition, winning her quarterfinal and semifinal impressively.
Greenough was outstanding in the final, claiming the holeshot out of the gate and riding faultlessly on the sodden track to control the competition and claim the world championship honours.
The silver medallist last year, Greenough was in a class of her own in the tough conditions.
Lily Greenough
“Honestly it is incredible. I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. Throughout the whole day, keeping it together especially in the wet weather – unbelievable. I can’t believe it yet,” said Greenough.
While the track held up relatively well in the constant rain, the soggy conditions were an additional challenge.
“I had to be more cautious in the wet through the corners because I didn’t want to wash out or slip down the ramp. I had to be aware of the conditions and adapt to get the best outcome you possibly could.”
Greenough said the whole day was exciting, adding that her support team of family and coach Matt Cameron was vital.
“The key for me was having my whole support system there with my family. Having my coach there especially helping me all the way through with lane picks, best lines in the conditions – that was the key today.
“I still can’t believe it. It is a dream come true. It hasn’t sunk in fully yet but it’s such a cool experience with all the media and everything. It is so cool.”
Jack Greenough
Her brother Jack Greenough also made the final in the men’s under-23 after winning his quarterfinal and placing fourth in his semifinal. After a bold move to recover on the first corner in the final, he misjudged the soggy jump on the second straight and came down to end hopes of a double family podium.
Greenough’s elder brother Bennett missed out on the finals in his first year in the elite category.
Fellow Cambridge club rider Finn Cogan impressed, winning his one-eighth final, and was third in his quarterfinal but a seventh placing in the semifinal ended his advance.
In the elite competition, Olympian Rico Bearman and Michael Bias both went out in the quarterfinals in a competition where many of the big names missed out.
Cambridge Olympian Leila Walker rode well to move into the semifinal but left herself too much to do in her semifinal, finishing sixth while Rotorua’s Megan Williams was edged out in her quarterfinal.
Te Awamutu club rider Brooke Penney was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the under-23 women, pipped by just 0.06s in making it to the semifinals.
Lily Greenough
Lily Greenough in action… and on the podium at world championship in Copenhagen. Photo: Cole McOnie.
