Earnest, kiwi riders aim for medals in Andorra
- 8 hours ago
- 2 min read
New Zealand mountain bikers climb to the high altitude of Andorra for the sixth round of the UCI MTB World Series for both downhill and cross-country this weekend.
After a highly technical and rewarding challenge in the Italian high mountains at the weekend, a 31-strong kiwi contingent will be looking forward to the familiar surrounds of Andorra ahead of the series’ summer break.
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The kiwi gravity group enjoyed success in Andorra last year with 10 riders finishing in their respective top-10s, led by third and fourth placings for Tyler Waite and Oli Clark in junior men, and fourth placing for Queenstown elite Jess Blewitt.
Last year 10 kiwis finished in the top 10 hurtling down the 1.9km high-speed course which is a mix of jumps, rocks and flat-out open trail.
There are five kiwis currently in the top-10 in their respective standings at the mid-point of the season.
Trek Unbroken rider Sacha Earnest moved to up to ninth in the elite women, with a season-best fourth for Blewitt (Scott Downhill) jumping her to 13th while Palmerston North’s Jonty Williamson (Yeti Fox) leads the junior men with Queenstown’s Malik Boatwright (Continental Atherton) fourth and Camden Rutherfurd (New Plymouth) ninth.
Queenstown’s Indy Deavoll (Stoic Racing) lies fifth in the junior women.
In cross-country, Alpecin Premier Tech pro Sam Gaze, who lives in Andorra, will be looking to push towards the sharp end if he can force his way from his mid-pack start.
The high-altitude course is a long-standing World Cup venue, offering a mix of technical, rocky descents and punishing climbs, offering more passing opportunities.
Downhill qualifying takes place overnight Friday (NZT) with short track XCC races on early Saturday morning. Finals for downhill begin from 9pm Saturday (NZT) with cross-country elite races overnight on Sunday.
The New Zealand entrants at Pal Arinsal, Andorra are:
XCO, Elite: Anton Cooper (Lapierre PXR, Christchurch), Sam Gaze (Alpecin Premier Tech, Cambridge).
Under-23: Fletcher Adams (Hamilton)
Downhill, Men Elite: Oli Clark (Mondraker Factory, Kaikoura), James MacDermid (The Alliance, Queenstown), Joe Millington (Yeti=Fox NZ, Rotorua), Cooper Millwood (Yeti Fox NZ, Alexandra), Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (MS Racing, Rotorua), Lachlan Stevens-McNab (Trek Unbroken, Rotorua), Seth Stylie (Yeti Fox, Auckland), Tyler Waite (Yeti Fox Factory, Clive), Luke Wayman (Yeti Fox Factory, Christchurch).
Women Elite: Bellah Birchall (The Alliance, Rotorua), Jess Blewitt (Scott Downhill, Queenstown), Sacha Earnest (Trek Unbroken, Auckland), Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory, Rotorua), Kate Hastings (Rotorua), Eliana Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz, Tauranga).
Men Junior: Seppy Binsbergen (New Plymouth), Malik Boatwright (Continental Atherton, Queenstown), Cole Hulsebosch (Tauranga), Jed Kuegler (New Plymouth), Monte Lieshout (Auckland), Dexter Lock (New Plymouth), Camden Rutherfurd (Nukeproof Axess, New Plymouth), Jack Sole (Queenstown), Sterling Stevens-McNab (The Alliance, Rotorua), Jonty Williamson (Yeti Fox Factory, Palmerston North).
Women Junior: Indy Deavoll (Stoic Racing, Queenstown), Capella Martin (Martinborough), Kiera Vlaar (Wellington).