Christchurch professional Charles Murray survived wet conditions to secure third placing overall after the final round of the UCI MTB Enduro World Cup in Loudenvielle-Peyragudes in France.
The Specialized professional was fifth in the final round, and thrilled to have survived the conditions to claim his first podium in the UCI MTB Enduro World Cup Series.
Murray rode circumspectly to be 11th fastest in the first stage, seventh on the second and 18th on the third before steeling himself to be fifth fastest in the penultimate stage and fourth in the final test. It secured fifth place on the day and secure his overall season podium placing.
“I am stoked. It turned out well in the end to secure third overall and only 50 points off second. It was a successful day but so hard in the wet,” said Murray. “It has been raining all week and the tracks were destroyed, so we were all struggling today. But I got the job done.
“It was about getting down without a major incident. The last stage was strong. I found that assertive motivation and really hit the hammer for the last one but like most riders, it was a struggle all day in those conditions.”
Belgian veteran Martin Maes prevailed on the day, finishing 15 seconds clear of American Rich Rude Jnr, who claimed the overall World Cup honours for elite men.
Taranaki’s Edward Masters was 16th, Nelson’s Brady Stone 17th and Masters’ fellow Pivot Factory rider, Matthew Walker 36th.
Frenchwoman Morgane Sharre prevailed in the elite females with Great Britain’s Harriet Harnden claiming the World Cup honours.
Liv professional Rae Morrison was an excellent seventh today with fellow Nelson rider George Swift 10th with the pair 10th and 14th respectively in the final World cup standings, in the last fulltime season for Morrison.
Rotorua rider Joe Millington showed his promise with second placing in the under-21 category, recording fastest times for the final two stages after a circumspect start in the conditions for the Yeti-Fox professional. He finished 14th overall after competing in only four of the six stops in the series.
“The future looks bright for New Zealand riders with Joe’s efforts today and Winni Goldsbury who was fifth overall. They both have huge futures,” said Murray.
Goldsbury, from Christchurch, finished fifth overall with wins in both of her starts, before breaking her clavicle and returning home.
There is no rest for the kiwi riders, who head to the highest ski resort in Italy at Val di Fassa for the UCI MTB Enduro World Championships next weekend.
Attention moves to downhill racing which will also be a significant test in the conditions over the weekend.
Results:
Elite men: Martin Maes (BEL) 23:29.244, 1; Rich Rude (USA) at 15.443, 2; Greg Callaghan (IRL) at 17.116, 3. Also NZers: Charles Murray (Specialized) at 41.953, 6; Edward Masters (Pivot Factory) at 1:17.50, 16; Brady Stone at 1:18.80, 17; Matthew Walker (Pivot Factory) at 2:17.618, 36.
Overall season standings: Rude 2640, 1; Slawomir Lukasik (POL) 2088, 2; Murray 2031, 3. Also: Walker 848, 21; Masters 770, 25; Stone 643, 37.
Elite female: Morgane Charre (FRA) 28:45.070, 1; Melanie Pugin (FRA) at 5:420, 2; Ella Conolly (GBR) at 9.475, 3. NZers: Rae Morrison (LIV) at 2:08.315, 7; George Swift (Yeti-Fox) at 3:`3.353, 10.
Overall season standings: Harriet Harnden (GBR) 2514, 1; Isabeau Courdurier (FRA)2493, 2; Morgane Charre (FRA) 2291, 3. NZers: Morrison 1250, 10; Swift 892, 14.
Men Under-21: Jakub Pivnicka (CZE) 25:16.652, 1; Joe Millington (NZL, Yeti Fox) at 1:437, 2; Urien Minuty (SUI) at 4.187, 3. Also NZers: Matthew Fairbrother at 58.348, 17; Lachie Ross at 1:22.320, 21;