Mountain biking: Peters in new world cup best

Rotorua mountainbiker Dirk Peters understands 13 is not an unlucky number after he achieved his best world cup finish yesterday in the Czech Republic.

Peters, a narrow runner-up to world champion Anton Cooper in the national championships, finished a strong 13th in the under-23 division cross country race at Nove Mesto Na Morave, one place better than his previous best on the same course last year.

He led the New Zealanders on the first day of action, with the cross country course providing long challenging climbs and significant technical areas that included several rock sections, including one on the flat part of the course.

Peters, who began fast and faded in Germany last week, this time started more conservatively before powering through the field to 13th with the eighth fastest final lap time.

Peters rides for Rotorua-based cross country mountainbike team NZXC.

Fellow Kiwis Sam Shaw (Rotorua) and Adrian Retief (Auckland) were one lap and two laps down respectively.

Rangiora teenager Ben Oliver recorded his second strong performance in eight days to place 14th in the junior race, following his 10th place last week. His brother Craig showed he is recovering from illness to finish 27th and Craig Lawson (Wellington) was 69th.

Another Rotorua rider Amber Johnston, the Oceania champion, improved from last week to finish 18th.

NZXC riders Carl Jones (Whakatane), Katie O'Neil (Rotorua) and Kate Fluker (Queenstown) compete in the elite racing overnight alongside fellow New Zealand rider Samara Sheppard (Wellington).

Results:

Women juniors: Greta Weithaler (ITA) 1:01:19, 1st; Malene Degn (DEN) at 4sec, 2nd; Sofia Widenroth (GER) at 16s, 3rd. Also: Amber Johnston (NZL) at 6:27, 18th.

Men Junior: Raphael Gay (FRA) 1:04:51, 1st; Romain Boutet (FRA) at 26sec, 2nd; Lukas Baum (ITA) at 36s, 3rd. Also New Zealanders: Ben Oliver at 3:19, 14th; Craig Oliver at 5:46, 27th; Simon Lawson at 10:50, 69th.

Men Under-23: Jens Schuermans (BEL) 1:15.51, 1st; Reto Indergand (SUI) at 1:14, 2nd; Michiel van der Heijden (NED) at 1:38, 3rd. Also New Zealanders: Dirk Peters at 3:54, 13th; Sam Shaw at 1 lap, 76th; Adrian Retief at 2 laps, 99th.