Buchanan and Willoughby BMX champs

16 Sep 2012, 5:34 pm   -   Source: AAP

Australian BMX riders Caroline Buchanan and Sam Willoughby have retained their overall World Cup titles in the last round in Canada.

Olympians Caroline Buchanan and Sam Willoughby have retained their respective BMX World Cup titles, surviving crash-marred races in the final round on Saturday at Abbotsford in Canada.

Canberra rider Buchanan fell early in her final but managed to get back on her bike to finish fifth behind Dutch winner Laura Smulders and young Australian teammate Kirsten Dellar.

Buchanan, the winner of a record six consecutive time trials this season, was the overall leader heading into the race and finished on 780 points, 93 clear of French rider Magalie Pottier.

"I would have loved to win today but it's good to know I was up there. Racing against the clock, I was the fastest girl but I know I still have a lot to work on next year," Buchanan said.

Olympic silver medallist Willoughby also won the men's time trial but needed to finish ahead of American leader Connor Fields in the race to retain the overall title.

Fields was caught up in a five-man crash as Willoughby went on to place second behind Dutch rider Twan van Gendt.

"I guess I was consistent this season with four seconds out of four rounds," explained Willoughby.

"I made a few mistakes in the semi today and had to start from the outside. I ended up following Twan around for another second."

The Adelaide rider finished with 743 points, 21 clear of Fields with van Gendt in third overall.

Third in the race was fellow Adelaide rider, Brian Kirkham will another Adelaide rider, Anthony Dean was caught in the crash.

Australia finished the series as the leading nation.

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