Ross Cullen and Tian Isidore both struggled in a fiercely competitive UEC BMX European Championships as they missed out on the medals in Sarrians, France.
The Great Britain Cycling pair looked good in their warm-up races of the junior men’s competition but it was not to be, falling at the 1/8 finals stage.
The results come just a month after positive displays from the pair at the UCI BMX World Championships in Baku.
Looking ahead
Cullen, of Preston Pirates BMX Club, finished fifth in June’s World Championships and was looking fairly comfortable in France, finishing second in one of the three warm-up races.
But two-time junior World Champion was not able to make it through to the quarter-finals, coming seventh in the final 1/8 bout in southeast France. The promising teenager had a slow start to the race, meaning he could not get close to the front four riders.
Meanwhile Isidore, of Pure Bicycles, also put in impressive warm-up performances with two second place finishes before the elimination races.
Yet it was not to be for the 18-year-old, who came ninth in the World Championships last month, finishing sixth in the opening race of the 1/8 finals and missing out on the quarter-finals by two places.
Martin takes silver
Elsewhere there was success for Ryan Martin in the boys under 16 competition as he powered his way to second place.
The teenager was involved in a thrilling race which saw home favourite Tatyan Lui Hin Tsan clinch gold with Martin just behind.
Tsan’s compatriot Clement Jard was in third position to round off the podium spots.
Elsewhere, there was no joy for Brit Ellie Featherstone in the girls under 16s in Sarrians as she missed out on the podium places – Michaela Hajkova of the Czech Republic clinching gold ahead of French duo Camille Imbert and Fanny Brocail.
It was the same story in the under 15's boys' competition as Britain's Chad Hartwell couldn’t break into the top three with Gabriel Montesinos taking the gold.
More than 100 British cyclists took part in the competition in the southeast of France with Oliver Cutmore the only other medallists in the men’s 25-29 category.
