New Zealand downhillers continued to impress with 12 riders qualifying for finals in the sixth round of the UCI MTB World Series in Andorra.
However after moving qualifying runs earlier in the day to avoid predicted wet weather, with updated worsening weather information, organisers have decided to cancel finals for junior riders and will proceed with elite only.
Rotorua’s Lachlan Stevens-McNab (Trek Factory) was in outstanding form, rushing down the 2.1km course fourth fastest in elite men’s qualifying, with an impressive ride in second half of the course on par with the leaders.
He will be joined in the final by fellow Rotorua rider Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (MS Racing) who nabbed the 20th and final spot in first qualifying, 2.184s back from top qualifier Juan Munoz (COL).
None of the other kiwi men managed to get through to tomorrow final in second stage qualifying.
In-form Jess Blewitt continued her impressive form with the Cube Factory rider from Queenstown seventh fastest in qualifying, just over five seconds from top qualifier Gracey Hemstreet (CAN). Blewitt was joined by Auckland’s Sacha Earnest (Trek Factory) who was ninth fastest on the course, where she won her second junior world championship medal last year.
Unfortunately Rotorua’s former junior world champion, Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory) was sixth in second stage qualifying chasing a top five spot, missing out by only 0.3s.
Initially four riders had qualified in both the male and female but with finals cancelled, results are based on qualifying.
That means Hawkes Bay rider Tyler Waite (Yeti-Fox) has finished third in junior men, two seconds back from Max Alran (Trek) in qualifying.
Based on qualifying times, round three Leogang winner, Oli Clark (Kaikoura, MS Racing) is fourth; Palmerston North’s Jonty Williamson (Yeti-Fox) seventh, and Queenstown’s Malik Boatright ninth.
Tauranga’s in-form Eliana Hulsebosch, who rides for the crack Santa Cruz Syndicate pro team, was fourth fastest in junior women, and misses the chance to push for a podium with their racing cancelled.
Accordingly impressive rookie Kate Hastings (Pivot Factory) is fifth, fellow Rotorua rider Bellah Birchall (Team High Country) seventh, and Queenstown’s Indy Deavoll (Queenstown) eighth.
Action also got underway at altitude in short-track cross-country with current New Zealand’s World Cup overall leader, Samara Maxwell 11th in the short track race, 47s from the winner Allesandra Keller (SUI) to earn a second row start.
Christchurch’s Anton Cooper (Lapierre Racing Unity) was 33rd in the elite men, with fellow Cantabrians Ethan Rose (Trek Future) 33rd in junior men and Amelie McKay 32nd in junior women.
Results, Downhill qualifying, Elite Male:
Qualifying 1 (top 20): Juan Munoz (COL) 2:40.275, 1; Loic Bruni (FRA) at 0.290, 2; Jordan Williams (GBR) at 0.492, 3; NZers to qualify: Lachlan Stevens-McNab (Trek Factory, Rotorua) at 0.651, 4; Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (MS Racing, Rotorua) at 2.184, 20.
Qualifying 2 (top 10 to progress, NZ riders): Toby Meek 2:45.891, 32; James Macdermid 2:47.261, 38; Sam Gale 2:50.092, 43; Luke Wayman 2:51.253, 47; Ed Masters 2:52.374, 53; Agnus Ferguson 2:53.049, 54.
Elite female, Qualifying (top 10 progress); Gracey Hemstreet (CAN) 3:00.955, 1; Tahnee Seagrave (GBR) 3:01.056, 2; Millie Johnset (NOSR) 3:02.407, 3. Also NZers: Jess Blewitt (Cube Factory, Queenstown) 3:06.519, 7; Sacha Earnest (Trek Factory, Auckland) 3:06.708, 9.
Qualifying 2 (top 5, NZ Riders): Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory, Rotorua) 3:10.689, 6.
Junior Male: Max Alran (FRA) 2:39.151, 1; Asa Vermette (USA) 2.39.711, 2; Tyler Waite (Hawkes Bay, Yeti-Fox) 2:41.547, 3. Other NZers: Oli Clark (Kaikoura, MS Racing) at 2.396, 4; Jonty Williamson (Palmerston North, Yeti-Fox) at6.005, 7; Malik Boatwright (Queenstown, High Country) at 6.475, 9; Rory Meek (Queenstown) at 11.223, 21; Sterling Stevens-McNab (Rotorua) at 11.816, 22; Cooper Millwood (Alexandra, Yeti NZ) at 13.966, 27; Seppy Binsbergen (Taranaki) at 27.972, 53.
Junior women: Aletha Ostgaard 3:04.470, 1; (USA) Marie Jensen (DEN) 3:06.379, 2; Rosa Zierl (AUT) 3:06.623) 3. NZ riders to qualify: Eliana Hulsebosch (Tauranga, Santa Cruz) at 4.927, 4; Kate Hastings (Rotorua, Pivot Factory) at 7.548, 5; Bellah Birchall (Rotorua, High Country) at 9.895, 7; Indy Deavoll (Queenstown) at 10.538, 8.
Cross-country, short track, elite men: Martin Luca (FRA) 22:00, 1; Chris Blevins (USA) same time, 2; Mathis Assaro (FRA) at 2s, 3. NZers: Anton Cooper (Christchurch, Lapierre Racing Unity) 1 lap, 33.
Elite female: Allesandra Keller (SUI) 20.32, 1; Evie Richards (GBR) at 4s, 2; Ronja Blochlinger (SUI) at 10s, 3. Also NZ rider: Samara Maxwell (Taupo, Decathlon Ford) at 47s, 11. (5th overall)
Under-23 men: Ethan Rose 33
Under-2 women: Amelie McKay 32