Palmerston North downhill rider, Jonty Williamson has created history after claiming his sixth win of the season at the UCI MTB World Cup at Les Gets in France today.
The 17-year-old, who rides for the Yeti Fox Factory team, has wrapped up the junior men’s downhill title with two rounds remaining. In doing so, Williamson becomes the first New Zealander to win a UCI Downhill World Series title in any grade.
Williamson has only been bested once this season, racing on a level-above regardless of track conditions, including the tricky test today at Les Gets, in the Haute Savoie which was hammered by wet weather yesterday.
It proved another one-two finish for kiwis with Queenstown’s Malik Boatwright second, pipped by Williamson by just 0.236s after pushing on to the Hot Seat in the penultimate ride. The Continental Atherton rider captured his fourth runner-up finish of the season to move over 20 points clear in second overall, with the North American rounds to follow.
However, it was Williamson that produced best when it counted.
“The run was super-good today,” said Williamson. “I’m so happy and it’s good to get on top of the box. It was really physical and tricky with the changing conditions but I managed to put down a good run.
“The track went from dry practice to completely wet – and sort of in the middle today which made it tricky to choose tyres and quite difficult.
“It feels pretty cool to be the first kiwi to win a DH overall title. It hasn’t sunk in yet but I am sure it will. That’s insane.
“I’m looking ahead to the World Champs – it will be a tricky race. Everyone will be going pretty quick. But I want to keep the same momentum and put down a consistent run.”
Taranaki’s Cam den Rutherfurd (Nikeproof Axess) was seventh to complete a superb kiwi presence in junior men, moving him to seventh overall.
There were solid kiwi results across the finals with Queentown’s Indy Deavoll (Stoic Racing) eighth in the junior women’s final to be in fifth place overall.
Rotorua’s Lachie Stevens-McNab (Trek Unbroken) was the best of the elite men in 11th in the final, one spot ahead of Kaikoura’s Oli Clark (Mondraker) with Christchurch’s Luke Wayman (Continental Atherton) 17th.
Tauranga’s Eliana Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz Syndicate) was best in elite women in 11th place with Rotorua’s Jenna Hastings Pivot Factory) 14th in the final.
The racing at Les Gets wraps up with Anton Cooper, Sam Gaze and the returning Sammie Maxwell competing in cross-country.
Jonty Williamson and Malik Boatwright on podium in LesGets (UCI)