Ten kiwi gravity riders have won through to the finals of the new UCI MTB World Cup season which has ventured to South Korea for the first time in 25 years.
The new downhill qualifying system has seen elite men’s debutante Tyler Waite (Yeti-Fox Factory) as the only kiwi to work his way into the top-30 qualifiers on the new course at Mona YongPyong.
Waite, third overall in the 2025 junior men’s season standings, missed out in the first round where the top 20 riders progressed, but was eighth in the second qualifying 10 riders advancing.
Fellow kiwis Tuhoto-Ariki Pene and Luke Wayman missed out in the second round by less than a second.
Rotorua’s Jenna Hastings earned her spot in the elite women’s final after placing ninth in the first round. The Pivot Factory rider from Rotorua has come into the new season in strong form after double wins in Crankworx at home and the opening round of the IXC European competition.
Double junior downhill medallist, Sacha Earnest missed out by one spot in direct qualifying in the first round, but was fourth in the second qualifying session in a slick 3:31.203 to sneak into the final.
New Zealand riders made a real statement in junior men’s competition with five riders qualifying in the top 20.
Best was Yeti-Fox rider Jonty Williamson from Palmerston North who was second fastest in qualifying in 2:56.655, only 0.1s from top qualifier Sacha Brizin (FRA).
Taranaki’s Camden Rutherfurd (Nikeproof Axes Racing) was fourth fastest in his debut, one spot ahead of Queenstown’s Malik Boatwright who has moved to the much-vaunted Continental Atherton team.
The others to qualify were Rotorua’s Sterling Stevens-McNab, young brother of Lachlan, seventh fastest riding for The Alliance, while Taranaki’s Seppy Binsbergen, a NZ MTB Academy rider, was 12th fastest among the top 20 to qualify.
Two kiwi riders qualified in junior women behind last year’s top ranked rider Rosa Sierl (AUT).
Queenstown teenager Indy Deavoll, returning for her second season after placing ninth overall last year, led the kiwis in qualifying with the Stoic Racing rider seventh fastest.
Also through is debutant Kiera Vlaar from Wellington, who has enjoyed success in IXS U17 competition in Europe.
The riders are getting used to the new downhill course, a 1.86km course built on the previous ski course, with high-speed ski piste sections along with tight and twisting wooded sections.
Meanwhile evergreen Christchurch rider Anton Cooper (Lapierre PXR) led the way with 13th placing in the elite men’s short course XCC race to earn a second row start for the XCO race on Sunday (NZT). He was just 20 seconds behind winner Mathis Azzaro (FRA).
The finals for downhill start from noon on Saturday (NZT) with Female U23, followed by Male U23 at 2pm, Female Elite at 4.30pm and Male Elite at 6.30pm.
Cross-country finals are on Sunday (NZT) from noon.
Jenna Hastings in action at Crankworx