Mont-Sainte-Anne MTB World Cup - Leov 10th and Peters 2nd

27 July 2009, 2:57PM
Bike New Zealand

Difficult weather conditions challenged the large contingent of Kiwis racing in Canada at the Mont-Ste-Anne MTB World Cup over the weekend. Practice sessions on all courses were run in generally dry mode, but race day for both Downhill and Cross Country had the added technical challenge of moisture and inconsistent slippery surfaces.

Friday's top 80 downhill qualifying session went well for the New Zealanders. On the long Mont-Sainte-Anne race course which always suits the most well prepared athletes, Sam Blenkinsop (Yeti/Fox) and Justin Leov (Trek World Racing) carried their strong World Cup form through to post 4th and 6th positions respectively. Junior Aari Barrett (Scott11) qualified in 40th, with other Kiwis to qualify Wyn Masters (Ancillotti), Cam Cole (Maxxis) and Nathan Rankin (Playbiker). First year Junior George Brannigan (Hawkes Bay) showed real promise to qualify in 53rd position at his first World Cup event.

Race day for the top 80 qualifiers saw Leov finish best of the Kiwis at 10th in a difficult race. Blenkinsop slipped down the finish order to 16th, and was visibly dissappointed with his result after such a strong qualifying run. Cam Cole improved on his qualifying run to 25th and continues to show improving consistency with his race results. However Australia's Sam Hill stamped his authority on the Mont-Sainte-Anne event, winning both qualifying and race run with a dominant display, in the process taking over the World Cup leaders jersey.

Gabby Molloy (Rotorua) was the sole Kiwi qualifier in the womens Downhill race, and eventually finished 20th in the race run.

Sunday's Cross Country events had NZ representation for the first time this season in the Junior World Cup. Rotorua's Dirk Peters competed at the front end of the four lap race against top Canadian athletes, and held 2nd position through to the finish for a confidence boosting result in the build-up to World Championships in September. Adrian Retief (Auckland) recovered from a slow start to work his way through the field to 14th.

In the Elite Cross Country World Cup races, Nic Leary (Palmerston North) showed real strength to work her way into 33rd in the World Class womens field, after a back of the field start position. Leary started strongly to pass 35 riders in the first lap before consolidating her position for the rest of the four lap race, gaining valuable UCI ranking points in the process.

The New Zealand mountainbike athletes now have a very short break before the Bromont MTB World Cup round this weekend, Aug 1-2.

Results:
Mens Downhill
1 Sam Hill (Aus) 4:38.44; 2 Steve Peat (GB) 4:41.48; 3 Aaron Gwin (US) 4:42.91;
New Zealand results:
10 Justin Leov 4:47.73; 16 Sam Blenkinsop 4:51.39; 25 Cam Cole 4:55.57; 46 Nathan Rankin 5:01.83; 48 Wyn Masters 5:02.04; 63 Aari Barrett 5:05.97; 67 George Brannigan 5:07.73

Women's Downhill
1 Sabrina Jonnier (Fra) 5:26.50; 2 Emmeline Ragot (Fra) 5:30.29; 3 Tracy Moseley (GB) 5:31.27; 20 Gabby Molly (NZ) 6:36.81

Junior Mens Cross Country
1 Evan Guthrie (Can) 1:25:22; 2 Dirk Peters (NZ) +01:07; 3 Antoine Caron (Can) +01:51; 14 Adrian Retief (NZ) +13:36; 21 Conor Corbett (NZ) +22:44

Elite Womens Cross Country
1 Catharine Prendel (Can) 1:37:42; 2 Irina Kalentieva (Rus) +1:31; 3 Katerina Nash +01:49; 33 Nic Leary (NZ) +16:21; 55 Jeanette Gerrie (NZ) -1lap

Elite Mens Cross Country
1 Julien Absalon (Fra) 2:06:05; 2 Jose Hermida Ramos (Esp) +00:32; 3 Geoff Kabush (Can) +02:48; 77 Mark Leishman (NZ) -2lap.

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