2024 UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, PAL ARINSAL, ANDORRA – DAY 2 PLUS
Nine New Zealand downhill riders have qualified for the elite finals of the downhill competition at the UCI MTB World Championships in Andorra.
Following the junior finals in the morning, the key for elites was to qualify among the top-40 women and top-80 men to contest the weekend finals.
Given the winning times in both junior finals were faster than the leading elite qualifiers, then many were focussing on a safety-first approach to ensure qualification, with more in the tank for finals on Sunday (NZ time).
Multi-national champion, Jess Blewitt (Queenstown, Cube Factory) was quickest of the kiwi riders in qualifying 13th fastest with former junior world champion, Jenna Hastings (Rotorua, Pivot Factory) also safely through to the finals, after her brother Ryan contested the junior finals earlier in the day.
Seven New Zealand men qualified for the finals, led by the 20-year-old Rotorua rider Lachlan Stevens-McNab (Union) who was 19th fastest.
Other New Zealand riders through to the finals comprised Tuhoto-Ariki Pene from Rotorua, Christchurch veteran Sam Blenkinsop (Zerode Racing), Rotorua’s James Macdermid (The Alliance), colourful Taranaki character, Wyn Masters (Gravity Cartel), and former national champions in Queenstown-based Toby Meek (MeekBoyz) and George Brannigan (Kenda NZ Bikes).
Action in Pal Arinsal, Andorra today shifts to cross-country with races for junior women and men ahead of the late afternoon schedule for the exciting short-track world titles for under-23 and elite women and men.
New Zealand riders racing in the junior men’s competition are Hamilton brothers Hunter and Fletcher Adams and Alexandra’s Eddie Adams with Kapiti’s Millie Donald in the junior women.
The kiwis chasing short-track honours include Canterbury’s Ethan Rose in the under-23 men, Sammie Maxwell in elite women, and two-time world champion Sam Gaze in the elite men.
Downhill results:
Downhill qualifying, elite women: Myriam Nicole (FRA) 3:03.285, 1; Tahnee Seagrave (GBR) 3:06.475, 2; Valentina Holl (AUT) 3:08.751, 3. NZ riders: Jess Blewitt 3:13.529, 13; Jenna Hastings 3:22.907, 26.
Elite men: Loic Bruni (FRA) 2:39.700, 1; Ryan Pinkerton (USA) 2:41.839, 2; Danny Hart (GBR) 2:42.074, 3. Also NZ riders to qualify: Lachlan Stevens-McNab 1:45.451, 19; Tuhoto-Ariki Pene 2:46.540, 25; Sam Blenkinsop 2:47.788, 33; James Macdermid 2:50.072, 42; Wyn Masters 2L51.880, 52; Toby Meek 2:52.449, 55; George Brannigan 2:54.118, 63.