2025 UCI MTB WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 4
Seven New Zealand junior riders have qualified for tomorrow’s final in downhill in Champéry on day four of the UCI MTB World Championships in Switzerland.
In-form Tauranga professional Eliana Hulsebosch was second fastest in qualifying for junior women, just 2.5s behind leader Rosa Zierl (AUT). She is joined by Rotorua’s Bellah Birchall (Team High Country) who recovered sufficiently from injury to qualify 18th fastest.
Palmerston North rider Jonty Williamson, who rides for Yeti-Fox Factory team on the world circuit, was third fastest in junior men behind French brothers Till and Max Alran.
Williamson led the kiwis ahead of MS Racing rider, Oli Clark from Kaikoura who was fourth fastest. Other kiwi riders through to the final were Tyler Waite from Clive in Hawkes Bay, Rotorua’s Sterling Stevens-McNab and Taranaki’s Seppy Binsbergen.
The demanding downhill track for the world championships was doubly challenging with some wet weather providing a slippery surface.
Tomorrow is the junior downhill finals while the elite gravity riders will compete in qualifying.
Meanwhile Gold Coast Commonwealth Games rider, Samara Sheppard competes in the cross-country marathon, having placed sixth in the demanding test two years ago in Glasgow.
Today’s MTB Downhill Junior qualifying results were:
Junior women (top 20 qualify): Rosa Zierl (AUT) 4:00.721, 1; Eliana Hulsebosch (NZL) at 2.509s, 2; Aletha Ostgaard (USA) at 2.782, 3. Also NZers: Bellah Birchall at 50.204, 18; Indy Deavoll at 2:01.642, 24; Kate Hastings dns.
Junior Men (top 60 qualify): Till Alran (FRA) 3:14.753, 1; Max Alran (Fra) at 0.144s, 2; Jonty Williamson (NZL) at 4.393, 3. Also NZers: Oli Clark at 7.471, 4; Tyler Waite at 15.908, 13; Sterling Stevens-McNab at 19.160, 20; Seppy Binsbergen at 25.706, 32; Malik Boatright dns.