New Zealand mountain bikers faced a sodden and muddy course for downhill finals at the UCI MTB World Cup in Les Gets, France.
Like many, the kiwi gravity riders did not fare well on the treacherous track, especially the junior riders earlier on the day, forced to cope with low visibility and mud.
Best was Hawkes Bay teenager Tyler Waite, who finished third in the junior men’s final. The Yeti-Fox Factory rider set the benchmark, off early in the final after struggling yesterday in qualifying.
His time remained the fastest until the final two riders edged him, led by Frenchman Max Alran who maintained his lead in the junior men’s championship. Waite moved clear in second ahead of the Frenchman’s brother Til with three rounds remaining.
Compatriots Oli Clark (MS Racing, Kaikoura) and Jonty Williamson (Yeti-Fox Factory, Palmerston North) were fifth and seventh respectively, to lie fourth and fifth respectively in the standings.
It was not so rewarding in the junior women, with the only starter in the final, Tauranga’s Eliana Hulsebosch disqualified. The Santa Cruz syndicate teenager was ruled to have ridden around a pole on a final jump but remains third overall in the standings.
However her compatriots in junior women - Indy Deavoll, Kate Hastings and Bellah Birchall - are all out injured, as is elite woman Sasha Earnest.
Rotorua’s Cube Factory rider Jenna Hastings was eighth in the elite women in her first top-10 finish in an impressive ride in the conditions.
Compatriot Jess Blewitt (Cube Factory, Queenstown) finished 12th but remains in the top-10 in the overall standings.
Ireland’s Ronan Dunne won the elite men’s final in his return to the top level ahead of the experienced Martin Maes (BEL), both handling the muddy conditions best.
Rotorua’s Lachlan Stevens-McNab (Trek Factory), the only kiwi rider in the elite men’s final, finished in the top-20 and remains 13th overall in the standings.
There is no time to take respite after the wet and wild weekend, with the downhill riders to trudge their way out of the mud at Les Gets to nearby Valais in Switzerland to ready for the UCI MTB World Championships which begin next week.
Meanwhile the cross-country riders prepare for their finals at Les Gets tomorrow.
Results:
Men Elite Downhill final: Ronan Dunne (IRL) 3:56.586, 1; Martin Maes (BEL) at 2.821, 2; Andreas Kolb (AUT) at 2.931, 3. Also NZers: Lachlan Stevens-McNab (Trek Factory, Rotorua) at 13.149s, 18.
Elite women: Gracey Hemstreet (CAN) 4:55.517, 1; Marine Cabirou (FRA) at 1.072, 2; Valentia Holl (AUT) at 2.741s, 3. Also: Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory, Rotorua) at 12.288, 8; Jess Blewitt (Cube Factory, Queenstown) at 31.732, 12.
Junior Men: Max Alran (FRA) 3:56.199, 1; Asa Vermette (USA) at 4.097, 2; Tyler Waite (Yeti-Fox Factory, Clive, NZL) at 10.904, 3. Also NZers: Oli Clark (MS Racing, Kaikoura) at 11.158, 5; Jonty Williamson (Yeti-Fox Factory, Palmerston North) at 13.843, 7; Sterling Stevens-McNab (Rotorua) at 27.353, 12.
Standings: Max Alran 339, Waite 310, Till Alran (FRA) 303. Also Clark 233, 4; Williamson 196, 5; Malik Boatwright (Queenstown) 120, 10.