Fine weather led to some daring performances in the elite downhill finals that the New Zealand riders could not quite match at the UCI world championships in Switzerland yesterday.
Austrian rider Valentina Holl made it four titles in a row in the elite women, while ultra-talented 21-year-old Canadian Jackson Goldstone rode with daring to claim his first elite men’s crown.
The dry conditions enabled riders to hurtle down the rutted Champery course on the absolute edge of grip.
However, a flat tyre during a superb run by Rotorua rider Lachlan Stevens-McNab thwarted the chances of a New Zealand male making the podium for the first time since a third placing by Sam Blenkinsop at the same course 14 years ago.
Stevens-McNab finished 6.489sec down on the winner in a respectable 14th place.
The 21-year-old was well up in the early and mid-stages of his run to threaten a spot on the hot seat, but a flat tyre on the bottom section of the track cost him any chance in an otherwise super-impressive run.
"It was a pretty good weekend as a whole," Stevens-McNab said.
"I took a big slam this morning and the wrist was a bit sore but otherwise all good.
"I was riding well but got a flat tyre, which was gutting. I was on a good one, may be a top three, but I don’t know.
"My riding was good. It got rough and the track got so beat-up but it dried out a bunch.
"It was cool to race a real gnarly race and pretty cool overall but a bit gutted."
Next best among the Kiwis was Luke Wayman (Christchurch), who finished 20th at 7.962sec down on the winner.
Six New Zealand men had forced their way into the elite final.
Taranaki great Wyn Masters, 38, was one of the early riders off in the final, having a lengthy stay in the hot seat trio during a long delay as officials airlifted out an injured rider.
Masters, a hugely popular figure in the sport with his regular video series, was the second-oldest rider in the elite finals, finishing 61st of the 80 finalists.
Holl edged French star Myrian Nicole by just 0.667sec to win the women’s honours.
Rotorua rider Jenna Hastings finished in 22nd place, 19.071sec down on the winner.
The former junior world champion was the only Kiwi female to compete in the elite finals, after Queenstown’s Jess Blewitt was unable to race after an injury during the qualifying run.
Action now turns to cross-country with short-track titles tomorrow and the cross-country world championship at the weekend. — Allied Media
