Kiwi gravity riders have travelled to the spiritual MTB home of Whistler for the penultimate round of the UCI MTB Downhill World Series in Canada this weekend.
There are 21 kiwi riders entered for the famed downhill track, the home of the Crankworx series, with the track expected to provide a fast and testing challenge.
There are season-long podium places at stake for several Kiwi riders, although junior star, Jonty Williamson has already wrapped up the World Cup series title. The Yeti-Fox Factory rider from Palmerston North will no doubt want to finish on a high note in Canada and the finale next week at Lake Placid. He leads the junior category just ahead of Queenstown’s Malik Boatwright (Continental Atherton).
Tyler Waite (Yeti-Fox, Hawkes Bay) is the highest ranked men’s elite in 23rd spot, one ahead of compatriot Lachie Stevens-McNab, with the Trek Unbroken rider hoping to build on his World Championship podium performance.
Auckland’s Sacha Earnest (Trek Unbroken) is the leading Kiwi in elite females in ninth place, ahead of Jess Blewitt (Scott Downhill, Queenstown), Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory, Rotorua) and Eliana Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz Syd, Tauranga) who are all in the top 15.
Queenstown’s Indy Deavoll is the leading New Zealand rider in junior women in fifth overall with two rounds remaining.
Qualifying is on Saturday (local time) and finals the following day.
Williamson at the UCI MTB World championships. (SWPix)