New Zealand MTB stars return to the happy hunting ground of Lenzerheide in Switzerland for the fourth round of the UCI World Series for both downhill and cross-country this weekend.
Kiwi riders enjoyed three podiums and seven top-10 finishes from gravity riders last year and return with some in-form riders ready to feature prominently again.
They are led by the super-hot Jonty Williamson, the Yeti-Fox Factory rider having won all three junior men downhill finals this year and was on the podium with compatriot Oli Clark at Lenzerheide last year.
Lachie Stevens-McNab podiumed in the elite men at the Swiss stop last year while Trek Unbroken teammate Sacha Earnest was fifth in elite females.
It is a special week for Stevens-McNab who has been sidelined with a head injury sustained in the opening round in South Korea.
“Things don’t always go to plan but at least (my videographer) @noadavidson was around to capture it all so far this season,” said Stevens-McNab who has released the video this week.
“Patience is everything when it comes to head injuries and long-term success. I’m fired up to kick-start his 2026 season, healthy and happy,” said the 2024 elite New Zealand Champion.
Kiwi performances last year and so far this season will no doubt provide confidence for further strong showings on the Switzerland track, 1.84m mix of high speed and technical sections with big jumps.
The riders will be looking for more favourable weather after the muddy battle at Leogang in Austria last week.
They share the weekend with cross-country competition, led by elite men Anton Cooper, Jesse Cseh and Sam Gaze as the kiwi representatives.
Qualifying for gravity riders is overnight Friday (NZT) from 10.30pm with the short track cross-country from 4.50am NZT on Saturday.
The downhill finals are from 9.30pm Saturday (NZT) through to after midnight for elite men, with cross-country starting late on Sunday and into Monday (NZ Time).
The New Zealand entrants at Lenzerheide:
XCO, Elite: Anton Cooper (Lapierre PXR, Christchurch), Jesse Cseh (Deviate Cycles, Wellington), Sam Gaze (Alpecin Premier Tech, Cambridge).
Downhill, Men Elite: Oli Clark (Mondraker Factory, Kaikoura), Joe Millington, Cooper Millwood (Yeti Fox NZ, Alexandra), Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (MS Racing, Rotorua), Lachlan Stevens-McNab (Trek Unbroken, Rotorua), Seth Stylie (Yeti Fox, Auckland), Tyler Waite (Yeti Fox Factory, Clive), Luke Wayman (Yeti Fox Factory, Christchurch).
Women Elite: Bellah Birchall (The Alliance, Rotorua), Jess Blewitt (Scott Downhill, Queenstown), Sacha Earnest (Trek Unbroken, Auckland), Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory, Rotorua), Kate Hastings (Rotorua), Eliana Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz, Tauranga).
Men Junior: Seppy Binsbergen (New Plymouth), Malik Boatwright (Continental Atherton, Queenstown), Cole Hulsebosch (Tauranga), Jed Kuegler (New Plymouth), Dexton Lock (New Plymouth), Camden Rutherfurd (Nukeproof Axess, New Plymouth), Jack Sole (Queenstown), Sterling Stevens-McNab (The Alliance, Rotorua), Jonty Williamson (Yeti Fox Factory, Palmerston North).
Women Junior: Indy Deavoll (Stoic Racing, Queenstown), Capella Martin (Martinborough).
Jonty Williamson on the podium after his junior men’s downhill win in Leogang, Austria. Credit: ©DaveTrumpore/Yeti Cycles