2024 UCI MOUNTAIN BIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, PAL ARINSAL, ANDORRA – DAY 1

Defending champion Erice van Leuven fired a warning shot over the bow of her opponents with a blistering qualifying run in the junior women’s downhill on the opening day of the 2024 UCI MTB World Championships in Andorra.

The Hutt Valley teenager, who rides for the Commencal les Orres professional team, blitzed her way down the challenging 2.1km downhill course in 2:59.573, the only junior female rider under the three minute barrier.

All 10 New Zealand junior riders, both female and male, are comfortably through in qualifying to the finals tomorrow, which will also feature qualifying for elite female and male riders.

Van Leuven was nearly 10 seconds faster than the second fastest qualifier, Ella Svegby (SWE) with a second back to GBR’s Heather Wilson.

Last year’s bronze medallist, Auckland’s Sacha Earnest (Trek Factory) was fourth fastest, 15 seconds behind van Leuven.

Rotorua’s Bella Birchall, in her first start at this level, impressed to be 10th fastest while national champion Eliana Hulsebosch (Tauranga, Union) was 26secs behind van Leuven as 11^thfastest, taking a conservative approach to qualifying.

Hawkes Bay rising star, Tyler Waite (Yeti-Fox) was quickest of the kiwi junior men in 2:43.225, fifth fastest, and 4.4 seconds behind top qualifier Asa Vermette (USA).

Christchurch rider Luke Wayman (Gravity Cartel) was ninth fastest, Kaikoura’s Oli Clark 16^th, Queenstown’s Rory Meek 40^th, Wanganui’s Seth Stylie 42^nd and Rotorua’s Ryan hastings 50^th – all inside the top 60 junior men through to the final.

Ashburton’s Oliver Nicholls crashed in training yesterday and did not start.

Cycling New Zealand team director, Sam Thompson said conditions were dry but quite loose on the downhill course.

New Zealand Results, Junior Downhill Qualifying:

Junior male , top 60 to final: Tyler Waite (Hawkes Bay, Yeti-Fox Factory) 2:45.142, 5; Luke Wayman (Christchurch, Gravity Cartel) 2:45.724, 9; Oli Clark (Kaikoura, Union Sinter) 2:47.268, 16; Rory Meek (Queenstown, MeekBoyz Racing) 2:53.331, 40; Seth Stylie (Wanganui, The Alliance) 2:53.664, 42; Ryan Hastings (Rotorua) 2:57.919, 50.

Junior female (Fastest 20 riders 20 to final): Erice van Leuven (Wellington, Commencal les Orres) 2:59.533, 1; Sacha Earnest (Auckland, Trek Factory) 3:15.174, 4; Bellah Birchall (Rotorua) 3:23.735, 10; Eliana Hulsebosch (Tauranga, Union)3:25.876, 11.