Unlucky for some, but not for New Zealand riders, with a record 13 gravity flyers qualifying for finals on the first day of the triple-header UCI Woosh MTB World Series in Leogang, Austria.
Also emerging today was in-form cross-country star, Sammie Maxwell, with the Decathlon Ford professional finishing runner-up in the elite women’s short track on the first day of the triple header competition for cross-country, downhill and enduro.
In downhill, qualification was via two stages with 20 riders through in the first stage and a further 10 in the second for elite men, with 10 in the first run and a further five in the second for elite women. Junior qualification was direct with the fastest 20 males and 10 females to progress to tomorrow’s finals.
Three kiwi men are through to the elite men’s final led by the in-form MS Racing rider, Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (Rotorua) who was 12th fastest overall in qualifying, just two seconds down on top qualifier Loris Vergier (France).
Joining him in the final is fellow Rotorua rider Lachie Stevens-McNab (Trek Factory) who was 19th overall with a further half second back with Nelson’s Sam Gale who secured the final qualifying spot from the first session. Stevens-McNab was the fastest through the speed trap at 58kph with all three exceptional in the final sector to cement their place in tomorrow’s final.
Christchurch’s Luke Wayman (Continental Atherton) was the unlucky kiwi, missing out on qualifying by 0.4s.
Multi-national champion Jess Blewitt (Cube Factory) enjoyed her best qualifying session this season, with the Queenstown rider 10th fastest in the opening run while Rotorua’s Pivot Factory rider, Jenna Hastings just missed out in the second session.
Not so fortunate was Auckland’s Sacha Earnest with the Trek Factory rider not starting after a hard crash although setting her sights on a return for the next round.
The kiwi juniors were impressive with six men and four women qualifying for tomorrow’s finals.
Kaikoura’s MS Racing professional, Oli Clark topped qualifiers with a brilliant run. He will be joined by Yeti Fox rider Tyler Waite from Clive who was sixth fastest, along with the Queenstown trio of Jonty Williamson (Yeti Fox), Rory Meek and Malik Boatwright (High Country) while rookie junior, Sterling Stevens-McNab (Rotorua) missed out on his first final by just 0.3s.
The junior women were also outstanding, led by Tauranga teenager Eliana Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz) who was second fastest, and joined in the top 10 by Rotorua’s Kate Hastings and Belah Birchall and Queenstown’s Indy Deavoll.
The cross-country focus was on short track with Maxwell again showing her speed to finish second behind Dutch star Puck Pieterse with the pair joined by series leader Evie Richards (GBR) at the front over the opening two laps.
Richards dropped off on lap four, with Pieterse edging clear from Maxwell on the following lap. The kiwi rider finished strongly over the closing laps for second to move up to fourth overall in the short track table.
Former short track world champion, Sam Gaze, recovering from illness, will focus on the cross-country elite race on Monday (NZ time), with American Christopher Blevins winning his fourth straight short track world series race.
In the under-23 short track races, New Zealanders Ethan Rose and Coen Nicol were 25th and 27s respectively with Amelie Mackay 18th in the junior women.
Tomorrow’s action features the downhill finals with the cross-country and enduro decided on Monday (NZ time).
Results:
Downhill, qualifying 1:
Men Elite, qualifying 1: Loris Vergier (FRA) 3:02.481, 1; Jordan Willians (GBR) at 0.687, 2; Amoury Pierron (FRA) at 0.773, 3. NZers to qualify: Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (MS Racing, Rotorua) at 2.029, 12; Lachie Stevens-McNab (Trek Factory, Rotorua) at 2.509, 19; Sam Gale (Nelson) at 2.592, 20.
Female elite, qualifying 1: Valentina Holl (AUT) 3:28.400, 1; Anna Newkirk (USA) at 1.095, 2; Tahnee Seagrave (GBR) at 3.146, 3. NZers to qualify: Jess Blewitt (Cube Factory, Queenstown) at 7.742, 10.
Junior men: Oli Clark (MS Racing, Kaikoura) 3:03.326, 1; Max Alran (FRA) at 1/359, 2; Kasper Hockman (FIN) at 2.670, 3. Also qualified: Tyler Waite (Yeti Fox, Hawkes Bay) at 4.701, 6; Jonty Williamson (Yeti Fox, Queenstown) at 5,119m 7; Rory Meek (Queenstown) at 6.918, 9; Malik Boatwright (Team High Country), Queenstown) at 6.977, 10.
Junior women: Rosa Zierl (AUT) 3:34.594, 1; Eliana Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz Syn, Tauranga) at 1.557, 2; Aleta Ostgaard (USA) at 6.677, 3. Also NZers: Kate Hastings (Rotorua) at 7.546, 4; Belah Birchall (Team High Country, Rotorua) at 11.093, 6; Indy Deavoll at 14.883, 10.
Cross-country, short track, elite female: Puck Pieterse (NED) 21.13, 1; Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford, NZL) at 16s, 2; Nicole Koller (SUI) at 21s, 3.
Elite male: Chris Blevins (USA) 23:00, 1; Martin Kossmann (CHI) same time, 2; Charlie Aldridge (GBR) at 1s, 3.