David “Hermanator” Herman, one of the eight members of the Velo Saddles’ elite Senso New Heroes Team, qualified for London and the BMX Olympics on the last May weekend as he placed fifth in the elite Men’s Finals at the UCI BMX World Championships in Birmingham, UK. With his 23-point lead over his USA teammates, Herman has been able to claim first slot on the USA delegation to the BMX Olympics in London in August.

After a surprising fall on the part of Maris Strombergs, which brought top favorite and 1st BMX Olympic Champion in at place eight against 175 other competing riders at the UCI finals, Herman finished three spots ahead in this deciding race. Strombergs, the world’s first BMX Olympic Gold winner in Beijing in 2008, and Herman, determined and powerful new contender for the golden rings, are Free Agent teammates, and members of Velo’s elite Senso New Heroes Team of exceptional young cycling talent.

Each year, the world’s best riders compete at the UCI BMX World Championships for the biggest annual prize in BMX racing, and the right to wear the Union’s rainbow striped emblem for the following 12 months. This year, the UCI championships have also been the deciding event during which nations could secure valuable qualification and earn the points to determine their participation at the London Olympics in August. The event took place in Birmingham’s NIA, the National Indoor Arena from the 24th and 27th May 2012.

Velo, world leading designer and manufacture of bicycle saddles and accessories, officially introduced in May a new rider and product relevant initiative branded “New Heroes”, to reinforce and better position their aftermarket performance brand, Senso. A logical nextstep in the brand’s ongoing commitment to young and dynamic cycling teams the world over, Velo is now actively supporting the athletes themselves to develop and achieve their full
championship potential. These exceptionally talented, budding young riders are Senso’s new torch holders.

The New Heroes Team comprises eight young and accomplished cycling athletes from the USA and Europe who have already made striking names for themselves in their various biking disciplines. Kevin Aiello (21) and David Herman (23), USA, together with Maris Strombergs (25), Lativa and USA, are the BMX riders; 21year old Gesa Bruechmann (Cyclocross) and 23 year old Tanja Hendrysiak (4X, BMX Race, DH) from Germany, as well as the Austrians Clemens Kaudela (21, Dirt und Slope) and Dominik Raab (26, Street und BMX). Thomas Genon, youngest of the line-up from Belgium, rides MTB, Dirt and Slope. The “New Heroes“ are an integral element of the new Velo campaign for the Senso Performance saddles.

Tags: Belgium, bicycle saddles, bmx riders, cycling team, David Herman, disciplines, elite men, London, Maris Strombergs, olympic champion, olympics, UCI BMX World Championships