Taranaki teenager Camden Rutherfurd claimed his first UCI MTB World Cup victory as Kiwi riders again shone at the penultimate downhill round in Whistler, Canada, today.
17-year-old Rutherfurd (Nukeproof Axess) prevailed in the junior men's downhill final on a challenging, soft and wet Whistler course on a day when two other Kiwis narrowly missed the podium. Tauranga's Eliana Hulsebosch and Christchurch's Luke Wayman, both aged 19, were edged into fourth place after stellar performances.
Rutherfurd, who has been in the shadow of world champion Jonty Williamson and fellow Kiwi Malik Boatwright in the junior men’s category, came to the fore today. With Williamson out with injury and Boatwright finishing 16th, the New Plymouth rider dominated to earn the victory by over six seconds after a superb run.
While Williamson and Boatwright remain first and second in the overall standings with one round remaining, Rutherfurd has moved into fourth, just 22 points shy of a Kiwi clean sweep.
Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz Syndicate) was the second-fastest qualifier in the elite women's competition and, after setting an excellent time in the final, was edged off the podium by the last rider down the course
It was a similar story for Wayman in the elite men's final, where the Continental Atherton professional set the standard and sat in the hot seat for much of the competition.
Fellow Kiwi Lachlan Stevens-McNab flew into the lead but was disqualified for travelling outside the course, before the final three seeds all sneaked ahead of Wayman to deny the Kiwi his first elite podium.
The riders move to Lake Placid in New York State for the final round of the UCI MTB World Cup this weekend, which is combined with cross-country.
NZ Results:
Men Junior: Camden Rutherfurd (Nukeproof Axess, New Plymouth) 1; Seppy Binsbergen 10th; Cole Huslebosch (Orbea FMD, Tauranga) 15; Malik Boatwright (Continental Atherton, Queenstown) 16.
Standings: Jonty Williamson (Yeti-Fox Factory, Palmerston North) 369pts, 1; Boatwright 255pts 2; Rutherfurd 202pts, 4.
Women Elite: Eliana Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz Synd, Tauranga) 4; Sacha Earnest (Trek Unbroken, Auckland) 9; Kate Hastings (Team High Country, Rotorua) 10; Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory, Rotorua) 13.
Standings: Earnest 750pts, 9; Hulsebosch 476pts, 12; Jenna Hastings 353pts, 14; Jess Blewitt 342pts, 15; Kate Hastings 134pts, 19.
Men Elite: Luke Wayman (Continental Atherton, NZL) 4; Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (MS Racing, Rotorua) at 18; Lachie Stevens-McNab (Trek Unbroken, Rotorua) DSQ.
Standings: Tyler Waite 375pts, 22; Luke Wayman 359pts, 24; Stevens-McNab 342pts, 26; Tuhoto-Ariki Pene 153pts, 39.
Women Junior Standings: Indy Deavoll (Stoic Racing) 180pts 6; Kiera Vlaar 15pts 19.
Camden Rutherfurd in action in Val di Sole in August. (SWPix)