Fast Laps and Fine Margins as Pretoria Hosts Road to Beijing Qualifier

Photo Credit: Charmaine Botes Visser

South Africa’s pump track stars deliver standout performances in a crucial 2026 World Championship qualifier with Maseti and Posthumus headlining a thrilling day of racing.

Pretoria, South Africa (30 June 2026) – Fast laps, fierce battles and another high-octane day on the Road to Beijing.

The Road to Beijing rolled through Pretoria this weekend, with Eduplex Pump Track hosting a key stop on the 2026 Velosolutions UCI Pump Track World Championships qualification series. It was a day defined by speed, tight racing, and riders pushing the limits for a place on the world stage in China this October.

The event produced a mix of expected breakthrough moments as South Africa’s top pump track riders went bar-to-bar in front of an energetic home crowd.

One of the standout performances came in the Elite Women’s final, where Miyanda Maseti delivered a clinical showing from start to finish. She was in control from qualifying and never looked back, sealing victory ahead of Lesotho’s Khothalang Leuta to book her spot at the World Championships. Anastasiia Beskrovnaia finished third, while South Africa’s Jade Gwen Ann Pringle took fourth after a solid run.

The Elite Men’s racing brought a different kind of intensity, with international and local riders trading fast times throughout the day. Although already qualified for Beijing following his win at the China Qualifier earlier this year, Ilia Beskrovnyi once again proved why he’s a benchmark in the discipline, taking the overall win in Pretoria.

The battle for the South African qualification spot went to Andrew Posthumus, who produced a composed and powerful performance to finish second overall and secure his place at the World Championships. He was followed by Doran Mathewson in third and Deagan McCallum in fourth after a closely fought final.

Away from the podium battles, attention also turned to the next generation of riders making their mark. U17 rider Matthew Fulton impressed with a lightning-fast 23.695-second lap. This is a a time that would have challenged the elite field, only bettered on the day by Beskrovnyi himself.

As the dust settles after this weekend, the Road to Beijing continues to gather momentum.