Cooper (Cannondale Factory Racing) finished sixth while Gaze (Specialized) was 55th at the final round of the under 23 cross country in Val di Sole, Italy, yesterday.
The muddy and slippery conditions caught out the New Zealanders, and a mishap on the start loop pushed Gaze back near the rear of the field.
After being held up in the early laps, the Cambridge rider showed good speed mid race but had to be content to finish more than 10min down on the winner.
Cooper started off the front row and, while he enjoyed a strong race and another typically powerful finish, the North Canterbury rider paid the price for an incorrect tyre choice in the slippery conditions.
He was the second fastest rider over the final two laps, giving him confidence heading into the world championships in Andorra next week.
Cooper finished the under 23 elite world cup in seventh overall. Gaze was 10th.
Queenstown rider Kate Fluker finished 34th in the elite women's race, 9min 50sec down on winner Annika Langvad (Denmark). Wellington's Samara Sheppard was 48th in her return to world cup action.
Fluker found herself back in 43rd place after the start loop and produced consistent pacing throughout to work her way to 34th, finishing 30th overall in the world cup standings.
The world championships begin at the Vallnord complex in Andorra today with the cross country eliminator.
The cross country teams relay is tomorrow, the junior men's and women's cross country world championship on Thursday, the under 23 men and women on Friday, the elite men and women on Saturday, and the downhill on Sunday.
