Lottery Enterprise Spotlights Artistic Cyclist in 2024 Contest: WestLotto Showcases Cycling Artist
A Rising Star in the World of Artistic Cycling: German Talent Antonia Blome
Artistic cycling, a captivating blend of elegance and acrobatics, has been gaining popularity in recent years. This sport, which originated from the circus in the late 19th century, has evolved into a highly competitive discipline under the umbrella of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
One such rising star in the world of artistic cycling is 17-year-old Antonia Blome from Germany. Antonia, who has been riding an artistic cycling bike since she was six years old, thanks to her mother who was also an artistic cyclist, has been making waves in the competitive scene.
Antonia finds artistic cycling appealing due to its aesthetics and variety. Her biggest dream is to become world champion in artistic cycling. This ambition was evident when she reached the final of the Junior Masters for the first time this year.
The UCI Artistic Cycling World Cup, one of the major annual competitions in the sport, consists of four rounds, with points won in the final round counting double. The first two rounds of the 2023 World Championship have already taken place in Tarquinia, Italy, and Hohenems, Austria, and the final round will take place in Oberbüren, Switzerland, on November 2nd.
Artistic cycling bikes are specially made machines, often handcrafted to meet both functional and aesthetic requirements of the sport. These bikes allow for quick starts, reverse driving, and have special saddles on which riders perform their tricks while standing. They also have high tire pressure and are suitable for smooth surfaces.
To master artistic cycling, fitness, strength, and concentration are necessary, according to Antonia. She excels at the handstand, which she learned at the age of 13. Antonia has also won the German Championship U15 twice, once with a broken foot.
Germany is considered a stronghold for artistic cycling, with both male and female world champions in the individual artistic cycling category coming from the country in recent years. Antonia aims to participate in the European Championship in the coming years and, eventually, become the world champion.
The support for artistic cycling in Germany extends beyond the athletes, with WestLotto entering into a cooperation with the federal state to promote sports events, including artistic cycling competitions in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The UCI has set worldwide rules for artistic cycling competitions, ensuring fairness and consistency across the sport. During competitions, artistic cyclists have five minutes to present their routine, with points awarded based on the difficulty, precision, and elegance of figures performed, like handstands on the handlebars, wheelies, spins, and flips. Judges deduct points for errors like touching the ground with a foot or losing balance.
The third round of the 2023 World Championship will take place in Hong Kong on August 11th, and artistic cycling associations have formed in Germany and around the world to support and grow the sport. For those interested in the most current detailed info, visiting the UCI official site or specific artistic cycling federation pages will provide official rules and event calendars.
What kind of sport does Antonia Blome excel in, considering her age and past achievements?Antonia Blome's dream is to become world champion in a sport that demands fitness, strength, and concentration, and she finds its aesthetics and variety appealing - artistic cycling.
