Race format for 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials announced
Qualification System for BMX Olympians:
Men:
Qualification for Olympics:
Step 1: Top Rider in UCI Points
Step 2: Win Olympic Trials Race in Chula Vista, CA
Step 3: Coaches' Pick
Nation Rankings determines quantity of riders per country that can participate in Olympics:
Criterion #1: UCI Ranking by Nation at 5/31/2008 race in Taiyuan, China
| Ranking By Nation | Riders Qualified per Nation | Total Number of Riders |
| Ranked 1 to 5 | 3 | 15 |
| Ranked 6 to 8 | 2 | 6 |
| Ranked 9 to 11 | 1 | 3 |
Translation:
Countries ranked one through five in UCI points can send three riders to the Olympics (15 riders total).
Countries ranked six through eight in UCI points can send two riders to the Olympics (six riders total).
Countries ranked nine through 11 in UCI points can send one rider to the Olympics (three riders total).
Rankings are determined for each nation by the position of the three best male riders from that nation. Ranking is determined by four categories of events: 1. World Championships; 2. UCI BMX Supercross World Cup; 3. continental events (10 events per continent); and 4. National Championships.
Criterion #2: UCI World Championships
(only countries that have not qualified under criterion #1 may qualify under criterion #2)
| Ranking By Nation | Riders Qualified per Nation | Total Number of Riders |
| The best six nations ranked outside of the nations already qualified above | 1 | 6 |
Rankings by nation at the World Championships are determined by the male riders of each nation in the elite men's final of the 2008 UCI BMX World Championships on 5/31/2008.
Criterion #3: Two invitations will be given based on choices of a Tripartite Commission
Women:
Qualification for Olympics:
Step 1: Top Rider in UCI Points
Step 2: Coaches' Pick
Nation Rankings determines quantity of riders per country that can participate in Olympics:
Criterion #1: UCI Ranking by Nation at 5/31/2008 race in Taiyuan, China
| Ranking By Nation | Riders Qualified per Nation | Total Number of Riders |
| Ranked 1 to 4 | 2 | 8 |
| Ranked 5 to 8 | 1 | 4 |
Translation:
Countries ranked one through four in UCI points can send two riders to the Olympics (eight riders total).
Countries ranked five through eight in UCI points can send one rider to the Olympics (four riders total).
Rankings are determined for each nation by the position of the three best female riders from that nation. Ranking is determined by four categories of events: 1. World Championships; 2. UCI BMX Supercross World Cup; 3. continental events (10 events per continent); and 4. National Championships.
Criterion #2: UCI World Championships
(only countries that have not qualified under criterion #1 may qualify under criterion #2)
| Ranking By Nation | Riders Qualified per Nation | Total Number of Riders |
| The best three nations ranked outside of the nations already qualified above | 1 | 3 |
Rankings by nation at the World Championships are determined by the female riders of each nation in the elite women's final of the 2008 UCI BMX World Championships on 5/31/2008.
Criterion #3: One invitation place will be given based on choices of a Tripartite Commission.