Heavy rain turned the downhill course into a muddy and slippery challenge in qualifying for the third round of the UCI MTB World Series in Saalfelden-Leogang in Austria.
Rotorua’s MS Racing pro Tuhoto-Ariki Pene showed his prowess in the chaotic qualifying session, finishing a standout 10TH fastest in the first qualifying run and proved the only kiwi to make it through to tomorrow’s elite men’s final.
Likewise, there were no kiwi elite women to qualify in the first run but Rotorua’s Jenna Hastings was second fastest down the massively challenging and slippery course. The Pivot Factory rider is he only kiwi through in the elite women, with her younger sister Kate missing out by one spot in the second session.
Competition leader Jonty Williamson was one of a few to survive the slippery and muddy conditions to top qualifiers in the junior men.
The Yeti Fox Factory rider from Palmerston North, who has won both rounds this year, finished two seconds faster at the top of the qualifying standings. Queenstown’s Malik Boatwright, riding for Continental Atherton, was eighth fastest and will be joined by Taranaki’s Seppy Binsbergen and Rotorua’s Sterling Stevens-McNab through to tomorrow’s final.
There were no kiwi females able to survive the conditions to qualify in junior women.
It also proved challenging in short track cross-country with Anton Cooper the only kiwi rider to compete, finishing a lap down on the winner.
Tomorrow’s racing features downhill finals with the cross-country on Sunday late evening NZ time.