Oli Clark leads after downhill at Mt Hutt
- editor59343
- 50 minutes ago
- 2 min read
New Zealand mountain bike fans were given a chance to see some of the rising international downhill stars in action when the UCI Oceania Continental Series got underway at Mt Hutt, Canterbury.
The international kiwi elite cream rose to the top in the men’s finals.
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Fastest qualifier Oli Clark from Kaikoura prevailed in the final, clocking 3:50.31 for his run to finish just over a second ahead of Rotorua international Joe Millington.
Clark, 18, enjoyed a brilliant 2025 international season, finishing sixth overall in juniors in the UCI World Cup series and has recently announced his move to Mondraker Factory Racing for elevation to elite ranks this year.
Millington was a second back in second place with Zac Bradley-Hudson the leading Australian in third place, with the Team High Country professional four seconds behind the winner.
The young guns showed their skills, led by the super-impressive 15 year old, Cole Hulsebosch (Orbea FMD Racing) from Tauranga, was fourth overall just over four second behind Clark. He is the younger brother of rising international star Eliana Hulsebosch, the Santa Cruz pro team on the UCI World Series.
The young guns led the way in the female ranks with 15-year-old Lucy Jenkins Jablonski from Canterbury claiming the fastest overall time for the day.
The Lincoln High School rider, who has already tasted podium success in Europe last year, clocked 5:02.21 to take out the under-17 honours in the opening round of the Oceania Continental Series.
Jenkins Jablonski was two seconds faster than leading under-19 rider Kiera Vlaar (Wellington MTB) and New Zealand MTB Academy rider Indy Deavoll from Queenstown.
It proved a day for the youth to shine in the women’s ranks with leading Australian visitor Maddie Lloyd, fourth overall and second in the under-15 ranks.
Leading elite was Rotorua’s Kate Hastings in fifth overall, as she returns to racing after an impressive UCI World Cup debut in Europe last year.
The series moves to Christchurch next weekend with two rounds of cross-country.
Results (all NZ unless stated):
Male, elite: Oli Clark (Mondraker Factory, Kaikoura) 3:50.31, 1; Joe Millington Rotorua) 3:51.34, 2; Zac Bradley-Hudson (Team High Country, AUS) 3:54.07, 3.
Under 19: Cole Hulsebosch (Orbea FMD, Tauranga) 3:55.01, 1; Kalani Henderson (New Plymouth Mtn Riders) 3:56.34, 2; Ryder Wilson (AUS) 3:57.44, 3.
Under-17: Mason Parr (Queenstown) 4:05.05, 1; Oscar Newnham (NZL) 4:15.94, 2; Jo0el Burkitt (Gravity Canterbury) 4:19.68, 3.
Female, Overall: Lucy Jenkins Jablonski Gravity Canterbury) 5:02.21, 1; Kiera Vlaar (Wellington MTB) 5:04.37, 2; Indy Deavoll (Queenstown) 5:04.68, 3.
Elite: Kate Hastings (Rotorua) 5:16.87, 1; Sacha Mills (AUS) 5:21.58, 2; Bellah Burchall (Rotorua) 5:30.36, 3.
Under 19: Vlaar 5:04.37, 1; Deavoll 5:04.68, 2; Ursula Summers (Alliance, Rotorua) 5:17.38, 3.
Under-17: Jenkins Jablonski 5:02,21, 1; Maddie Lloyd (AUS) 5:12.31, 2; Kiera Burborough-Murphy (Rotorua) 5:29.42, 3.
Under-15: Pippi Taylor (Nelson) 5:45.55, 1; Milly Rennie (Nelson) 6:41.80, 2; Alexa Van Tromp (Christchurch) 7:01.67, 3.