Lower Hutt teenager Erice Van Leuven, one of the youngest riders in the field, has won the under-21 women’s UCI Enduro World Cup race in Tasmania.
The 16-year-old, who has recently signed for the crack professional team Commencal Les Orres, was runner-up in the opening round of the world series in Maydena in the national forest park west of Hobart last weekend.
Van Leuven went one better in the second round in Derby, near Launceston, at the weekend.
The young kiwi star made it a clean sweep, winning all six stages on the enduro event, with her closest rival more than a minute and a half back.
Enduro races are similar to a rally, made up of a series of timed downhill stages which are accumulated for the final result, with uphill “touring” stages linking up the various timed runs.
In a major turning point for enduro racing, the sport has taken the step up to full World Cup status and become one of six disciplines integrated into the revamped UCI Mountain Bike World Series.
The weekend’s second round comprised a tough six-stage race that took place among Tasmania’s stunning eucalyptus trees high above the Derwent Valley and saw riders cover some 54kms, climb more than 1,200m and descend nearly 3,000m.
Last week the young kiwi finished runner-up in the opening round to Canada’s Emmy Lan who edged ahead on the final stage after Van Leuven had led throughout the day.
It has given Van Leuven the lead after two rounds in the world series, which now moves to Europe, where the young kiwi will compete in a mix of downhill and enduro events.
France’s Isabeau Courdurier and Australian Luke Meier-Smith claimed the elite honours in the opening round in Derby, with the second round won by the popular Rich Rude Jnr (USA) and Rebecca Baraona (GBR).
There are a number of New Zealanders competing, with former national downhill champion Kate Weatherly seventh and 10th in the elite women over the opening two rounds.
Taranaki’s Ed Masters was eighth and 10th respectively with Charles Murray and Matt Walker also in the top-10 in Maydena.
The UCI Mountain Bike Enduro World Cup heads to Europe for round three, when the world’s best will be back in action In Italy in June.
Results, Round 1, Derby, Tasmania:
Female, Elite: Isabeau Courdurier (FRA)33:15.93, 1; Morgane Jonnier (FRA) at 9:58, 2; Ella Conolly (GER) at 37:72, 3. Leading NZers: Rae Morrison (LIV Racing) at 46:46, 6; Kate Weatherly at 59:80, 7.
Under-21: Emmy Lan (CAN) 35:28.90, 1; Erice Van Leuven (Commencal Les Orres, NZL) at 3:68, 2; Xanthe Robb (NZL) at 1:46.48, 4.
Male, Elite: Luke Meier-Smith (AUS) 28:55.21, 1; Daniel Booker (AUS) T 5:83, 2; Connor Fearon(aus) t 19:24, 3. Leading NZers: Ed Masters (Pivot Factory) at 45:09, 8; Matt Walker (Pivot Factory) at 1:03.48, 16; Charlie Murray (Specialized Enduro) at 1:03.64, 17.
Under-21: Sascha Kim (AUS) 29:26,11, 1; Remy Meier-Smith (AUS) at 18.79, 2; Will Hynes (AUS) at 40.34, 3. Leading NZers: Joe Millington at 2:01.87, 14; Guy Johnston at 2:13.59, 17.
Round 2, Maydena Tasmania:
Male Elite: Rich Rude Jnr (Yeti Fox, USA) 25:52.86, 1; Slawomir Lukasik (CAN) at 7:59, 2; Jesse Melamed (CAN) at 24:97, 3. Leading NZers: Charles Murray (Specialized) at 36:38, 7; Matt Walker (Pivot Factory) at 39:19, 9; Ed Masters (Pivot Factory) at 39.23, 10.
Under-21: Sascha Kim (AUS) 27:02.42, 1; Cooper Lowe(AUS) at 7:29, 2; Lisandru Bertini (FRA) at 10:07, 3. Leading NZers: Guy Johnston at 43:32, 10; Matthew Fairbrother at 1:10.69, 16; Joe Millington at 1:15.95, 18.
Female, Elite: Rebecca Baraona (GBR) 29:52.01, 1; Harriet Harnden (GBR) at 8:22, 2; Ella Conolly (GBR) at 25:73, 3. Leading NZers: Kate Weatherly at 1:21.23, 10; Rae Morrison (LIV Racing) at 1:25.01, 12; George Swift at 1:32.68, 14.
Under-21: Erice Van Leuven (NZL) 31:40.05, 1; Elly Hoskin (CAN) at 1:36.18, 2; Lia Ladbrook (AUS) at 1:37.47, 3. Leading NZers: Xanthe Robb at 1:45.19, 4.