The 2007 NZCT National Mountain Bike National Series kicked off today with Wanganui’s Samuel Blenkinsop following up his 2nd world championships Under 19 placing with a convincing Elite Men's win in sunny conditions at round one of the Downhill held in Wanaka.
New Zealand’s top riders were back in form in the first major competition following the 2006 Worlds in Rotorua with Blenkinsop starting the day as he was to finish posting the fastest seeding time of 3.44.08 min, then took off two seconds to win by .01 second from Frenchman Fabien Pedemanaud. Wanganui’s Glenn Haden came in third with a 3.44.63 min.
Queenstown’s Scarlett Hagen took the Elite Women’s title with a 4.08.10 in the race run to finish first in one of the largest, and strongest Elite womens fields the Series has seen for a number of years. Tauranga’s Vanessa Quin was in second place (4.09.99 min) and 2006 National Champion Jennifer Makgill (Auckland) in 4.10.33 min).
The record 195 riders for the Treble Cone round was boosted by a number of internationals and the 73 riders who registered on practice day having been taking advantage of the ski fields opening for the summer mountain bike season.
Matthew Scoles was the fastest for the day in the junior categories in the Under 19 category which would have placed him sixth in the Elite mens category showing there is plenty to look forward to for New Zealand Mountain Biking. A large contingent of the Under 19 and Under 17’s posted times which rivaled those of not only the Senior men, but also the Elite Men proving there is depth in the country.
Next week the series moves to Coronet Peak in Queenstown and will include the first round of the Cross Country.
Photos here: http://www.vorb.org.nz/photos-album-1548.html
Full Results here: http://www.vorb.org.nz/vorb-download-58598.pdf |
