Mountainbiker Sam Blenkinsop was part of New Zealand sporting history yesterday when he became the first Kiwi to stand on the podium at a world downhill championship.
Saving his season's best performance for the biggest race of the year, 22-year-old Blenkinsop took the bronze medal at the famous Champery downhill course in Switzerland.
And it could so easily have been a silver as he diced with danger and disqualification in the elite men's downhill.
He hit the tapes twice on his run - and going through them would have disqualified him from the competition - and almost came off his bike as he pushed himself to the limit.
"Initially I was disappointed in my run - a couple of crucial mistakes lost me time and the silver medal, but the bronze medal is fine,'' said the Lapierre International team member.
"And winning the first New Zealand elite world cup race and now standing on the world championship podium ... I'm okay with that.''
The Wanganui rider displayed outstanding skill in treacherous wet conditions, regaining the form he showed in 2009 and 2010.
Torrential rain made things perilous for riders and the course deteriorated during what was the final day of the championships.
Britain's Danny Hart won the world title with a time of 3:41.989, with Frenchman Damien Spagnolo second out of 100 riders.
Blenkinsop, who won a silver medal as a junior in 2006, was 1.3 seconds behind Spagnolo.
Kiwi Brook MacDonald, the 2009 junior bronze medallist, was ninth, while Dunedin's Justin Leov finished 23rd after falling.
It has been an excellent season for Blenkinsop, who has had six top 10 finishes in world cup action and a win at the Crankworz Garbanzo at Whistler in July, and he will be heading home to Wanganui this week for a break from racing.
- Wanganui Chronicle
