New Zealand mountain bikers will be looking to build on recent unprecedented success when the UCI Mtb World Series moves to the famed venue of Val di Sole in the mountains among the Dolomites in Trentino, northern Italy.
The downhill and cross-country racing again join this weekend, after kiwi riders achieved a remarkable six podiums in Leogang, Austria, including a victory in the junior men to Oli Clark.
This has been no one-off achievement for kiwi riders this year, with Olympian Samara Maxwell earning a breakthrough victory and three runners-up finishes this year in cross-country where she currently leads the competition.
Clark’s historic victory in the junior men’s downhill in Leogang, moved the MS Racing rider to fourth overall.
Hawkes Bay junior Tyler Waite (Yeti-Fox) has two second placings this season to sit in second overall with Clark fourth, Jonty Williamson (Yeti Fox, Palmerston North) sixth and Malik Boatwright (High Country, Queenstown) eighth overall.
Tauranga’s Eliana Hulsebosch bagged her second podium in junior women at Leogang to move her to second on overall points, with Rotorua’s Kate Hastings and Indy Deavoll (Yeti NZ Development, Queenstown) ninth and 11th respectively.
In elite women, Cube Factory rider Jess Blewitt was outstanding, finishing fifth in the elite women at Leogang and this weekend is joined by in-form Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory) along with the return from injury for Sasha Earnest (Trek Factory) and the first appearance for two-time junior world champion, Erice van Leuven (Norco).
Val di Sole has a signature downhill course known as the Black Snake, a monster capable of making the slightest mistake costly. In runs over 2.4kms with gradient maxing out at 40 percent and altitude drop of 540m on a course of daunting repute.
The cross-country course is a mix of demanding climbs, thrilling descents, and technical challenges over the lap of 4kms with a 200m difference in altitude. It is a real spectacle with threats from boulders and roots.
Maxwell has been outstanding in elite cross-country this season, and when a rider has pushed clear, the young kiwi has displayed maturity to ride her own race and achieve strong results.
In the elite me,n Paris Olympian Sam Gaze (Alpecin Deceuninck) is slowly working his way back to form after a crash and illness, although he is not placing to many expectations on this weekend.
Compatriot Anton Cooper (Lapierre Racing) showed encouraging signs in Leogang after being out of the sport for much of last year.
“That's the first World Cup race since my illness last year that I've felt truly part of a World Cup again. Most of all, it's nice to feel some good progress and I look forward to Val di Sole,” said Cooper.
Competition starts with downhill qualifying starting at 10.30pm Friday (NZ time) and second round qualifying from 1.30am Saturday (NZT). Action turns to cross-country with short track racing from 1.45am Saturday (NZT) with women’s under-23, followed men’s under-23, elite women (3.30am NZT) and elite men (4.10am NZT).
Focus goes back to downhill on Saturday with finals for junior women (8.50pm NZT), junior men 9.20pm, elite women 11.30pm and elite men from 1.30am on Sunday.
Cross-country resumes on Sunday NZT with under-23 women from 7pm, elite women from 9pm, male elite from 11.30pm and under-23 men from 1.30am on Monday (NZT).
New Zealand riders competing at Val di Sole, Italy:
Downhill, Men Elite: Angus Ferguson (Christchurch), Sam Gale (Nelson), James Macdermid (Hamilton), Toby Meek (Queenstown), Wyn Masters (Taranaki), Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (MS Racing, Rotorua), Lachie Stevens-McNab (Trek Factory, Rotorua), Luke Wayman (Continental Atherton, Christchurch).
Junior: Seppy Binsbergen (New Plymouth), Malik Boatwright (High Road, Queenstown), Oli Clark (MS Racing, Kaikoura), Rory Meek (Queenstown), Sterling Stevens-McNab (Rotorua), Tyler Waite (Yeti Fox, Clive), Jonty Williamson (Yeti Fox, Palmerston North).
Women, elite: Jess Blewitt (Cube Factory, Queenstown), Sacha Earnest (Trek Factory, Auckland), Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory, Rotorua), Erice van Leuven (Norco Race, Hutt Valley).
Junior: Bellah Birchall (High Country, Rotorua), Indy Deavoll (Yeti NZ Development, Queenstown), Kate Hastings (Rotorua), Eliana Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz Synd, Tauranga).
Cross-country, Male elite: Anton Cooper (Lapierre Racing Unity, Christchurch), Sam Gaze (Alpecin-Deceuninck, Cambridge).
Female, Elite: Sammie Maxwell (Decathlon Ford, Taupo).
Male Under-23: Bailey Fredericksen (Mondraker NZ Academy, Whakatane), Coen Nicol (Taupo), Ethan Rose (Trek Future, Christchurch).
Female, Under-23: Amelie Mackay (Christchurch).