Anton Cooper claims Silver at Worlds
If you haven't heard already 17 year old Anton Cooper takes Silver medal at MTB World Champs.... full story here....
http://www.mtbnz.org/wordpress/?p=676#more-676
http://www.mtbnz.org/wordpress/?p=676#more-676
UCI Mountainbike World Champs Preview
The World Cup Cross Country circuit has been set alight by a young 17 year old from Woodend, North Canterbury over the last three weeks in Europe. Anton Cooper is finally realising his dreams of racing and winning at the highest level after being so patient through the pre-junior age group categories in New Zealand. Cooper comes to Champery on the strength of back to back World Cup wins in Czechoslovakia and Val di Sole, Italy in the Junior Mens category, and his exploits have created a buzz amongst many of the major professional teams who are lining up to speak to the very balanced young man. The attention is hardly distracting Cooper however, with his focus on the rainbow jersey unwavering.
On the Downhill side of the team, New Zealand's strength and depth is well recognised on the circuit. The New Zealand team comes into Champery as the world number one ranked nation in Junior Men, number two ranked nation in Elite Men, and number three ranked nation in Junior Women - rankings the envy of every other country. In the Elite Men especially this year, several athletes have the pace, form and desire to win next weekend. Cam Cole, Justin Leov, Sam Blenkinsop, Brook MacDonald and Mat Scoles all having stood on World Cup podiums this year or achieving top ten results on arguably the toughest cycling discipline circuit on the world stage. Blenkinsop is ready to fire as well after not having the sort of season he is well capable of, and having recovered from the lingering effects of a debilitating stomach bug last weekend in Val di Sole. 2009 Junior World Champion MacDonald is hungry and driven for success, and having tasted the lofty heights of World Cup podiums this season, the Bulldog won't settle for anything less at the Champs.
Competiton updates will be provided as the schedule unwinds over the next week. Events and schedule for the World Champs programme is as follows (times shown NZ time):
Cross Country Team Relay
Thursday 3am start time
Rosara Joseph, Carl Jones, Dirk Peters, Anton Cooper
Cross Country Junior Men
Friday 1am start time
Anton Cooper, Mathew Waghorn, Tom Bradshaw, Nigel McDowell
Cross Country Under 23 Women
Friday 3am start time
Samara Sheppard, Katie O'Neil
Cross Country Under 23 Men
Saturday 3am start time
Dirk Peters, Brad Hudson, Sam Shaw
Four Cross Men
Saturday 7am start time
Daniel Franks
Cross Country Elite Women
Saturday 11.30pm start time
Rosara Joseph, Karen Hanlen
Cross Country Elite Men
Sunday 2.30am start time
Carl Jones
Downhill Junior Men and Women
Sunday 9.30pm start time
Reuben Olorenshaw, Daniel Franks, Reece Potter, Jay Barrett, Nick Bygate, Sarah Atkin, Madeline Taylor, Sophie Tyas, Sophiemarie Bethell, Veronique Sandler
Downhill Elite Women
Sunday 12am start time
Amy Laird
Downhill Elite Men
Monday 1am start time
Cam Cole, Justin Leov, Brook MacDonald, Sam Blenkinsop, Mat Scoles, George Branniga
NZ MTB Team at the UCI World Cup Final, Val di Sole, Italy Cross Country and Downhill Competiton Day Two
Some of you guys might remember Anton Cooper (centre) from the Moa race, he already looks like he owns it, even before the start! Awesome performance....read on....
The New Zealand Mountainbike Team completed its competition schedule in Italy today at the final round of the UCI World Cup, in the beautiful northern Italian Val di Sole. Temperatures again rose to 40 degrees plus for the days racing, with competition to match the heat.
The Junior Mens Cross Country race started at 9.30 this morning, anticipation rising as fast as the temperature. A huge field of 102 men took the line, with the Junior Womens race on course at the same time. Christchurch's Anton Cooper proudly started the race with the number 1 plate on his bike, and in prime attack position in the middle of the front line on the start grid. The Christchurch flier jumped out into clear air at the gun and went into the first lap (of four) in a small lead group of four riders, which quickly reduced to three on the first pinch climb. Cooper had some issues first lap with a dropped chain, but stuck to his race plan of attacking the field in the second lap and from there never looked back, charging to a one minute win. In consecutive weekends at these last two World Cups, Copper has now accounted for all of Europes best Junior Cross Country athletes who seem to have no answer for his stunning turn of power and balanced approach to claiming line honours. Copper moves into final preparations for the World Championships in two weeks with confidence high for delivering a breakthrough result for his country.
Cooper's win is also a momentous and unprecedented achievement for a New Zealand Cross Country athlete. Not quite 17 years old yet, Copper took the top step of the podium today at a World Cup for a second time, never before achieved by a New Zealander at World Cup level in any discipline, let alone in the absolutely demanding Cross Country format in the stronghold of the sport amongst Europe's best.
Typically humble, Cooper summed up his morning “the race went pretty well for me today – a few issues with the dropped chain and a couple of small dramas riding through the back of the Junior Womens field but all good. I'm rapt to be lapping at a pace comparable to the fastest Under23 Men and am in a great space for the World Champs in Champery”
Other New Zealanders in the Junior race also had a good day on the bike – Wellington's Tom Bradshaw charging to a 22nd place finish after getting out to a good start. Mathew Waghorn (Palmerston North) in 28thand slightly down on his own expectations, with Rotorua's Nigel McDowell 71st.
The Downhill competiton got under way at 2pm for the men, with New Zealand's seven qualifiers all eager to improve in their drive for the podium. Nelson's Reuben Olorenshaw was first away – the only Kiwi Junior to make the top 80 cut. Olorenshaw raced hard and fast and on a par with his qualfication time, ending 50th and 4th Junior. Olorenshaw was all praise for his NZ designed and built Zerode downhill bike “I loved this World Cup course – it was so epically long and rough, and the Zerode simply ate it all up, I'm really happy with the way I raced today”. George Brannigan (Hawkes Bay) unfortunately had a bad crash at the end of this mornings practice session, damaging ligaments in his knee and unable to start the final. Sam Blenkinsop (Wanganui) was next away and looked to be uncomfortable on his run, not able to get into his characteristic attack mode for a dissappointing 25th finish. Justin Leov (Dunedin) showed he could turn around his own fortunes after a heavy first day practice crash and subsequent hospital visit for a 12th place. Brook MacDonald (Napier) was targetting a podium today at the very least, after developing a refined taste for standing on the coveted steps this year at World Cup level. MacDonald's run took him to the leaders hot seat with only 11 riders still to come, eventually finishing 7th. Cam Cole (Christchurch) then bumped his good friend out of the hotseat to hold a lead that looked like it had the legs to go all the way – Cole surviving an incredibly sketchy moment mid course that looked like it would ruin his day, only to ride it out and deliver a storming time. Matthew Scoles was last Kiwi away, and looked to be on a wild ride that just didn't translate into podium potential, but still good enough for 10th. The last four starters one by one chipped away at Cole's lead, leaving the Lapierre International professional with a well deserved podium fifth.
It als completes a very successful World Cup series for the New Zealanders, with MacDonald 6th in the overall standings, Cole 7th, Leov 9th and Scoles 16th.
The NZ MTB Team now disperses for five days training before coming together again in Champery, Switzerland on August 27th for the UCI World Championships.
NZ MTB Team at the UCI World Cup Final, Val di Sole, Italy Cross Country and Four Cross Competiton Day One
The New Zealand Mountainbike Team assembled in Italy this week to compete at the final round of the UCI World Cup, in the lead in to the World Championships at the end of the month. Beautiful weather has been a constant all week in the northern Italian venue, with temperatures soaring to 40 degrees plus for the main Cross Country race day today.
First event on the Cross Country programme was the Under 23 Mens. As the temperature rose Dirk Peters (Rotorua) emerged as the best of the Kiwis after a tough start in the 100 strong field. Peters recovered from being bunched in the pack after the start loop to work his way into a 39thplace finish, five minutes down of the leader. Brad Hudson (Christchurch 61st) and Sam Shaw (Rotorua, 71st ) also finished on the lead lap after five tough laps. Dominic Furkett struggled after a strong start, withdrawing after two.
The Elite Women were next off the start grid late morning, and the race start was full of drama. Karen Hanlen (Whakatane) colliding with a photographer positioned inside the start/finish barriers within the first 50m of the race, bringing down another three riders. Hanlen kept her composure however, and worked her way back from dead last of the 66 starters to claw back a fighting and inspiring 26th place finish. Rosara Joseph raced at a constant level, just out of touch with the leaders but protecting her position to a 20th place finish.
The Elite Mens race went at 2pm, with Carl Jones (Whakatane) NZ's sole representative. From what looked like a strong start, Jones faded in the early stages of the race in the high temperatures, withdrawing after three laps.
The last race on the Cross Country programme today was the Under 23 Womens, with Rotorua's Samara Sheppard and Katie O'Neil expected to do well after solid European campaigns this year. Both struggled to fire however, 13th and 15th respectively, with the two ladies clearly dissappointed not to break through into the front of the field contest.
After Four Cross qualifying on Friday night, Daniel Franks (Christchurch) was looking confident on the Commezzadura course, seeding 28th of the 78 starters. The knock out, elimination style event took place under lights tonight, with Franks easily winning his first heat to the delight of the strong NZ support crew. The second round was not so kind – Franks not getting the best start but working into some clear air challenging for 2ndriding into the first corner. The rider in Franks' sights unexpectedly slid out right in front of the flying Franks, leaving him nowhere to go, and knocked out of the contest.
Reece up and running...
Here's a link to Reece's first outing in with the big boys over in Val di Sole, Italy!
Scan down the Elite Men list (147th out of 207) not a bad start for a young fella!
Way to go Reece!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/mtb-world-cup-cross-country-7-downhill-7-and-four-cross-5-cdm/downhill-qualifying/results
Scan down the Elite Men list (147th out of 207) not a bad start for a young fella!
Way to go Reece!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/mtb-world-cup-cross-country-7-downhill-7-and-four-cross-5-cdm/downhill-qualifying/results
2012 NZ MTB Cup/National and Oceania Champs
Just for the record........
NZ MTB Cup, presented by Nature Valley – Downhill
Round 1 Queenstown Jan 7-9**
Round 2 Dunedin Jan 13/14
Round 3 Christchurch Jan 20/21
Round 4 Rotorua Feb 11/12
Round 5 Wellington Feb 17/18
Round 6 Napier Feb 24/25
** the exact format for Queenstown still to be confirmed
NZ MTB Cup, presented by Nature Valley - Cross Country
Round 1 Dunedin Jan 15 (UCI Cat 1)
Round 2 Christchurch Jan 22 (UCI Cat 2)
Round 3 Wellington Feb 19 (UCI Cat 2)
Round 4 Napier Feb 26 (UCI Cat 1)
RaboDirect Mountainbike National Championship, presented by Nature Valley (UCI Cat CN)
Nelson, Jan 27-29
4X Jan 27
Cross Country Jan 28
Short Track Cross Country Jan 29
Downhill Jan 29
UCI Oceania Championships, presented by Nature Valley (UCI Cat CC)
Rotorua, March 9-11
4X March 9
Cross Country March 10
Short Track Cross Country March 11
Downhill March 11
It’s a full summer of racing, with the major change for 2012 being the scheduling of the National Champs in the middle of the NZ MTB Cup. With a long standing commitment to Rotorua for the 2012 Oceania Champs, the National Champs shift for 2012 is all about maintaining equity between the north and south islands. This keeps travel costs for entrants to an absolute minimum while building to the most important domestic event of the year, the Oceanias
Jack & George going well in States
The 2010 national road champion Jack Bauer was the best of a big kiwi contingent in the opening prologue at the Tour of Utah.
Bauer, making a rare appearance across the Atlantic for his UK-based Endura Racing Team, was eighth in the 2km prologue at Park City, Utah. He finished 9.57s behind winner Sergio Henao Montoya who won in 4:05.
There are 12 New Zealanders competing in the Tour including seven in Pure Place Racing led by Glen Chadwick and Tim Gudsell, Jeremy Vennell and Paddy Bevin for Bissell, Hayden Roulston for HTC High Road, Bauer and George Bennett, racing as a stagiaire for in the high profile Radioshack team .
After Bauer, Roman van Uden for Pure Black was next fastest 22.6 seconds back.
Meanwhile in Europe Jesse Sergent is in eighth place on general classification after two stages of the Tour of Eneco in The Netherlands and Belgium.
Jesse, riding for RadioShack, has finished in the peloton in big bunch finishes in the opening two stages, won by Andrew Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto). He is 12 seconds down on the leader on GC, former Trek Ridestrong teammate Taylor Phinney (BMC).
Greg Henderson (Team Sky) is 18th on GC and 18 seconds back after also finishing in the peloton.
Nice one Nelson!
(From Nelson MTBC website)
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See below for a map of the first cleared section of the Rameka extension aka The "Pack Track" don't be fooled by the elevation gained statistic being 117 metres as I measured the track by walking uphill with my gps. So just for the record this section is 1.48km long with a elevation drop of 117metres, there is also a gain of 12 metres within that section. Scroll down and click on view details, you can also click on Aerial to get the satelite view......
The next step is that the track will cross the road and cut the corner off exiting opposite the entrance to the Rameka Project, we've already started that section too!......exciting stuff!!
The next step is that the track will cross the road and cut the corner off exiting opposite the entrance to the Rameka Project, we've already started that section too!......exciting stuff!!