Kiwi downhill mountain bikers responded to the challenge of the steepest track on the UCI MTB World Cup circuit at La Thuile in Italy today.
A record 10 New Zealand gravity riders are through to finals across the four classes after qualifying down the 2.3km track with an average gradient of 28 percent, which gave no respite in changing conditions in the Italian Alps.
Three New Zealand elite women qualified among the 15 finals spots, headed by Queenstown’s Jess Blewitt (Scott Downhill) who was sixth fastest. She was joined by Auckland’s Sacha Earnest (Trek Unbroken, eighth fastest, while Tauranga elite rookie Eliana Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz Syndicate) was 10th fastest to make it to her first elite final.
Rotorua’s Lachie Stevens-McNab (Trek Unbroken) was super-impressive qualifying eighth fastest in the first session for elite men while Hawkes Bay’s Tyler Waite (Yeti Fox Factory) and Christchurch’s Luke Wayman {Continental Atherton) were second and fifth fastest respectively in the second sudden-death session.
Palmerston North star Jonty Williamson, who has won the opening four rounds in junior men’s downhill, recovered from an early mistake to edge into the top-20 in 17th placing to secure a spot in the final.
Taranaki rider Camden Rutherfurd (Nukeproof Axess) qualified fifth fastest with Queenstown’s Malik Boatwright (Continental Atherton) 13th to both qualify for tomorrow’s final, while the Taranaki’s Dexter Lock and Waikato’s Jed Kuegler just missed out in the single qualifying session.
The in-form Queenstown teenager Indy Deavoll (Stoic Racing) was eighth fastest to be the only kiwi through to the finals in junior women.
Downhill finals are tomorrow followed by cross-country on Monday (NZT).
Eliana Hulsebosch after her successful qualifying run in Italy today.