Odds:
Niek Kimmann (NED) – 71/20
Joris Daudet (FRA) – 19/4
Māris Štrombergs (LAT) – 23/4
Liam Phillips (GBR) – 7/1
Corben Sharrah (USA) – 8/1
Jelle van Gorkom (NED) – 9/1
Sam Willoughby (AUS) – 19/2
Nic Long (USA) – 21/2
Connor Fields (USA) – 14/1
Amidou Mir (FRA) – 16/1
Anthony Dean (AUS) – 20/1
Carlos Ramirez (COL) – 20/1
Twan van Gendt (NED) – 28/1
Jérémy Rencurel (FRA) – 33/1
Edžus Treimanis (LAT) – 33/1
Tory Nyhaug (CAN) – 40/1
David Graf (SUI) – 50/1
Odds as of Aug. 9 courtesy betting website Bovada.lv.
Māris Štrombergs won back-to-back BMX golds in Beijing and London. His Olympic dominance earned him the nickname “The Machine,” but he hasn’t been cranking out wins so far in 2016. The 29-year old Latvian will need to step up his game if he’s aiming for a third-straight gold medal.
Niek Kimmann will be a force to be reckoned with in Rio. The Dutch rider won the BMX world championships in 2015 and finished 2nd this year. Kimmann ranks third in the world rankings and is looking to unseat Štrombergs at the top of the podium.
Team USA’s Nic Long and Corben Sharrah aren’t just looking for a strong showing in Rio – they are both aiming for the gold. Long is ranked number one in the UCI while Sharrah won the gold at the BMX World Cup in March. Long is looking for redemption after his disappointing showing in London.
Another man to watch is the somewhat surprising 2016 World Champion Joris Daudet. The Frenchman finished fifth, sixth and eighth in his first three UCI BMX events in 2016, but shocked the field by winning the championship in May. Daudet will be confident heading into his second Olympics.
Sam Willoughby is always a threat on the track. The British rider, who is engaged to Team USA BMX rider Alise Post, grabbed the silver medal in London and a pair of world championships in 2012 and 2014. “The BMX Bandit” will be looking to add to his trophy case in Rio.