Europeans beat US at BMX debut

Beijing: Anne-Caroline Chausson of France and Latvian Maris Strombergs won gold medals in the debut Olympic finals of BMX on Friday after crash-filled runs that showed the extreme edge of the sport.

Chausson, a veteran rider who came out of retirement to compete in the Olympics, won the gold after favourite Shanaze Reade of Britain crashed out in the final curve.

Chausson's team mate Laetitia Le Corguille won the silver and American Jill Kintner took the bronze in an exciting day of racing marked by a series of spectacular crashes.

Strombergs beat the Americans at their own sport to win the men's event. The Latvian managed to avoid two big crashes in the final that left several riders splayed out on the course.

American Mike Day took silver and his team mate Donny Robinson won the bronze.