Cycling New Zealand has officially named a team of 18 riders to contest the 2021 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Val di Sole, Italy from 25 to 29 August.
Buoyed by a strong performance for sixth place at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, kiwi star Anton Cooper is primed for the World Championships in Val di Sole. The Trek Factory professional produced a compelling race of skill and determination to achieve the highest Olympic placing in Mountain Biking for a New Zealand rider.
The Torpedo7 World Championships team comprises a trio of male elites in cross-country with Cooper, Alpecin-Fenix professional Sam Gaze and NZ Cycling Project rider Ben Oliver. This trio grabbed three of the top four positions at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, where Gaze won gold.
Junior riders named to compete in cross-country include Nelson’s Cameron Jones in the under-23 race and Canterbury’s Ethan Rose in the under-19 category. Jacob Turner and Adam Frances were also conditionally selected to the team but have elected to bypass this year’s championships.
There is a strong contingent of male elite downhill riders including world number 26 Sam Blenkinsop (Christchurch, Norco Factory), George Brannigan (Hawkes Bay, Propain Factory), Sam Gale (Queenstown, Pivot Factory), former junior medallist Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (Rotorua, The Union) and Brook MacDonald (Hawkes Bay, MS Mondraker).
Taranaki brothers Ed and Wyn Masters, both suffered untimely crashes at the recent UCI Downhill World Cup event in Maribor, forcing them out of the world championships due to injury. Reserves Charles Murray (Wanaka, Specialized Enduro) and conditionally selected Finn Hawkesby-Browne (Christchurch, The Union) will step into their places to complete the elite men’s downhill contingent.
Queenstown’s Jess Blewitt, a former ski racer and now downhill national champion, is the sole female elite, riding for YD Racing.
The junior downhill riders selected comprise the YD Racing pair of James Macdermid (Hamilton) and Lachie Stevens-McNab (Rotorua) along with YT Mob professional Guy Johnston (Thames) with Alex Wayman reserve.
The eMTB event will be contested by Charles Murray and Cameron Jones. Rotorua’s Sam Shaw was conditionally selected but elected to bypass this year’s championships as did Keegan Wright who was conditionally selected to Four-Cross.
Overseeing the team will be former international downhill professional, Cameron Cole.
Operating in the Covid-19 environment has added another layer of complexity with riders needing to complete requirements of the International Event Entry. Cycling New Zealand regularly reviews and updates its current position with regard to athletes attending international events, to ensure that a duty of care for athletes and teams is protected.
The International Event Entry Process ensures riders and their families are fully informed and prepared for the risks of travelling prior to participating in events overseas. It also ensures the health, safety and wellbeing is maintained for staff and athletes.
The NZ competition schedule is as follows (NZT, Start times):
Wednesday 25 August: Cross-Country short course qualifying, 0400.
Thursday 26 August: Cross-Country junior male, 2330.
Friday 27 August: Cross-Country elite male short course, 0345.
Saturday 28 August: Cross-Country Male EMtb, 0245; Male U23, 2045.
Sunday 29 August: Cross-Country Male Elite, 0145; Downhill Male Junior 1925; Downhill Female Elite 2250.
Monday 30 August: Downhill Male Elite 0010.
CAPTION: Anton Cooper in action