The kiwi riders were without fortune in round four action at the UCI BMX Racing World Cup in Papendal, Netherlands today.
After a win for Rico Bearman and medal for junior women’s rookie Lily Greenough in round three at the same venue yesterday, the kiwi contingent could not find a way to the podium on the fourth round.
The conditions proved a challenge, with rain falling for the key medal rounds which proved the downfall for several New Zealand riders.
After his overall elite men’s victory in round three, national champion Rico Bearman was in strong form with wins in his heat and first round. But with the rain falling, he did not get his usual strong start in the quarterfinal and was unable to make up the ground.
North Harbour’s Michael Bias qualified from his heat but was edged out by one spot in the one-eighth round.
Best of the kiwis today was Lily Greenough who continued her impressive form in her World Cup debut in Europe.
She won her heat and dominated the quarterfinal, winning by a second, before finishing second in her semifinal to series leader Michelle Wissing (NED).
The kiwi made a strong start in the final and was heading for another podium but slid out on the wet and slippery final turn, and while disappointed, Greenough has retained third in the overall standings.
Paris Olympian Leila Walker continued her improvement after returning to racing this month ago following foot surgery.
Walker was second to Paris Olympic medallist Manon Veenstra (NED) in her first round, and fourth in a tight quarterfinal, only 0.7s from the winner, to progress to the semifinal.
She slipped slightly out of the gate in the rain and could not force her way back through the pack in the semifinal, while compatriot Megan Williams went out in the quarterfinals.
Best of the under-23 men was Jack Greenough (Cambridge) who was the only kiwi to make it through to the one-eighth round in what was the biggest class competing at Papendal.
Finn Cogan (Cambridge) made it to the first round while Cooper Richardson (North Harbour) and Nick Cowie (Southland) went out in the Last Chance round.
The riders now prepare for the UCI BMX Racing World Championships in Copenhagen next month.