Rotorua Mountainbikers have had a steady lead up to this month's World Championships.
The New Zealand Mountainbike Team assembled in Italy this week to compete at the final round of the UCI World Cup. Beautiful weather has been a constant all week in the northern Italian venue, with temperatures soaring to 40C plus for the main Cross Country race day yesterday.
First event on the Cross Country programme was the Under 23 Mens. As the temperature rose Dirk Peters (Rotorua) emerged as the best of the Kiwis after a tough start in the 100-strong field. Peters recovered from being bunched in the pack after the start loop to work his way into a 39th place finish, five minutes down of the leader. Brad Hudson (Christchurch 61st) and Sam Shaw (Rotorua, 71st ) also finished on the lead lap after five tough laps. Dominic Furkett struggled after a strong start, withdrawing after two.
The Elite Women were next off the start grid, and the race start was full of drama. Karen Hanlen (Whakatane) colliding with a photograph-er inside the start/finish barriers within the first 50m, bringing down another three riders. Hanlen kept her composure, however, and worked her way back from last of the 66 starters to claw back an inspiring 26th place finish. Rosara Joseph raced at a constant level, just out of touch with the leaders but protecting her position to a 20th place finish.
The Elite Men's race went at 2pm, with Carl Jones (Whakatane) NZ's sole representative. From a strong start, Jones faded because of the high temperatures, withdrawing after three laps.
The last race was the Under 23 Women's, with Rotorua's Samara Sheppard and Katie O'Neil expected to do well after solid European campaigns. Both struggled to fire coming in 13th and 15th respectively, with the two women disappointed not to break into the front of the field .
After Four Cross qualifying on Friday night, Daniel Franks (Christchurch) was looking confident on the Commezzadura course, seeding 28th of the 78 starters. The knock-out, elimination-style event took place under lights last night, with Franks easily winning his first heat. The second round was not so kind - Franks not getting the best start but working into some clear air challenging for second riding into the first corner. The rider in Franks' sights unexpectedly slid out in front of the flying Franks, leaving him nowhere to go, and knocked out of the contest.
Today is the final day of competition, with the Junior Men's Cross Country race in the morning. Featuring the last World Cup's winner, Anton Cooper (Christchurch) - an athlete who seems to have the World Cup circuit talking about his stunning win, and displaying the No1 plate tomorrow. Cooper's form and pace are not a surprise to the NZ MTB Team or the NZ mountainbike community but have taken the Europeans by surprise. The four-lap race is sure to be a stunner.
The Downhill Men's and Women's races are in the afternoon, with seven New Zealand qualifiers in the top 80 men's race, including Junior Reuben Olorenshaw (Nelson) who qualified in his first World Cup this weekend in 48th place (and fifth Junior).