It was Kiwi Girl-power again to the fore in the latest double rounds of the UCI BMX Racing World Cup in China.
Cambridge Olympian Leila Walker, after her runner-up effort in the final on Saturday in Chongli, China, enjoyed another grand final finish in the second day. She finished fifth on day two and now moves up to seventh overall in the season-long championship with two rounds remaining in USA.
Meanwhile fellow Cambridge rider Lily Greenough is third in the overall standings for under-23 women. She was fourth on the first day but had the misfortune to crash in her qualifying heat on day two, putting her on the sidelines for the rest of the day.
Fellow Kiwi under-23 women, Brooke Penny, from Te Awamutu made the final on both days at Chongli, finishing a season-high fifth on day one and eighth on day two.
Penny has moved into the top-20 overall and Greenhough is third overall.
Rotorua’s Megan Williams enjoyed back-to-back semifinals in her best World Cup outing in the elite women class to date.
While the male riders missed out on semifinals or better, Bennett Greenough rode well both days, narrowly missing out on the 1/4 finals. Rico Bearman went out in the quarterfinals on both days, along with Michael Bias. Nico Cogan impressed to make both quarterfinals in under-23 men, with older brother Finn crashing out on Day 1’s semifinal to end his weekend early.
The World Cup finishes with a double round in Sarasota, USA on 31 October and 1 November.
Walker on the podium in Chongli (Credit: Cole McOnie)