Freerider MX Magazine – hub for all freestyle, FMX, motocross, supercross, freestyle, dirt biking, race events, videos & news

BMXers go Downstairs

Monday, 09 March 2009 23:30

 

A controversial never-before-seen stunt caused chaos in Amsterdam yesterday as eight of the world’s most professional BMX racers including BMX Olympian, Ron van de Wildenberg, illegally raced down the staircase and corridors of the Post CS building, a mail distribution office that is set to be demolished!

For years, the Post CS Building served as a mailing office for the Dutch state post company, PTT. In 2004, the building was officially closed and off limits to the public. As labourers prepare to destroy the building, the walls of the Post CS Building served as a BMX playground for eight world class riders.

The BMX bandits raced a 400-metre indoor course that comprised of 324 stairs.  They started on Level 11 and raced their way down to the ground floor while the labourers were still working on site!

“When we took the challenge to hold a race in this building during demolishing, I have to admit, I had mixed feelings about it. The steep, narrow stairways and the half demolished floors were incredibly tough to ride. Rather than jumping over tree stumps, branches, roots and other natural obstacles, we had to overcome broken windows, smashed up cabinets and dangling cables,” said first place winner, 22-year-old Ivo van der Putten (NED).

Czech rider Michal Prokop enjoyed his rollercoaster ride down the unique course, “When the guys asked me if I wanted to race in Amsterdam, I thought they were joking. Now, to be honest, I am just happy to have got down the stairs in one piece – mind you, a few cuts and bruises are all part of it.”
 
The bikers then left the building as swiftly as they had entered it, blending into the crowds along the iconic Grachten (canals) in the heart of the Dutch capital, a city famous for having the most bicycles per capita in the whole of Europe.