Hopes for New Zealand’s leading cross-country mountain bikers were dealt a blow with crashes thwarting efforts in the latest stop in the UCI MTB World Cup in Val di Sole, Italy.
After winning his second short-track race mid-week, Sam Gaze injured his knee in a crash during final training. He was able to start but ultimately finished mid-pack in the elite men’s race, while compatriot Anton Cooper (Trek Factory) elected not to start.
Women’s national champion Samara Maxwell, in her first World Cup elite race, came down in a packed and chaotic start but managed to recover for a well-merited 16th place.
Ten-time world champion Nino Schurter (SUI) and four-time world champion Pauline Ferrand Prevot (FRA) dominated to claim victories in the men’s and women’s cross-country on the demanding Val di Sole course.
Gaze started well off the front row but slowly fell off the pace, managing to ride to the finish without further harm to his injured knee.
“It was a hard crash yesterday and I lost a lot of energy from it. I was okay until halfway through the race but the reality of a body trying to recover kicked in. For sure disappointment but glad to be able to get on top of this before Crans Montana this weekend,” said Gaze.
His short-track win has meant he has moved up to fifth overall in the world cup standings, with several leading contenders also off the pace at Val di Sole.
Meanwhile last year’s under-23 world champion, Maxwell had a rough start to her first elite women’s race, coming down after being sandwiched in the packed start-loop.
Once back in the race Maxwell worked her way slowly through the field with a series of excellent laps that saw her push through from 61st on lap one to 16th place. Her final lap was the fastest of all riders.
“I had a fall from the start with someone pushing my front wheel right and someone else pushing the back wheel left,” said Maxwell. “I was on the ground pretty quick. I thought this might mean I won’t get the result I want but it’s a chance to show my fight. I am really happy with that.”
Canterbury’s Ethan Rose (Trek Future) enjoyed a strong race in the under-23 men, starting back in the packed field, but working his way impressively to 18th at the finish.
There is no break for the cross-country riders who head to altitude in the new venue of Crans Montana in Switzerland for round five of the world series this weekend.
Results:
Elite men: Nino Schurter (SUI) 1:18.25, 1; Alan Hatherly (RSA) at 7s, 2; Mathis Assaro (FRA) at 46s, 3.
Also Sam Gaze (NZL, Alpecin-Deceuninck) at 4:28, 32. Overall points: Victor Koretzky (FRA) 789, 1; Schurter 755, 2; Hatherly 709, 3. Also: Gaze 601, 5.
Elite women: Pauline Ferrand Prevot (FRA) 1:21.04, 1; Puck Pieterse (NED) at 59s, 2; Candice Lill (RSA) at 1:13, 3. Also: Samara Maxwell (NZL, Decathlon Ford) at 5:47, 16.
U23 men: Riley Amos (USA) 1:08.09, 1; Bjorn Riley (USA) at 9s, 2; Finn Treudler (SUI) at 29s, 3. Also: Ethan Rose (NZL, Trek Future) at 3:30, 18; Bailey Fredericksen at 4 laps, 122.
Junior women: Isabella Holmgren (CAN) 1:14.54, 1; Olivia Onesti (FRA) at 1:26, 2; Elina Benoit (SUI) at 2:37, 3. Also: Amelie Mackay (NZL) at 2 laps, 61,