Leov and Cole on Form with Top Fives in the US and UK

New Zealands World Class Downhill racers continued their preparation for this weekend's UCI World Cup on opposite sides of the Atlantic over the weekend.


US Open, Diablo Freeride Park, Vernon, New Jersey

Justin Leov (Trek World Racing, Dunedin) and Kieran Bennett (DRD Tomac, Nelson) competed at the lucrative US Open yesterday. The popular event run during the US Memorial Day holiday weekend drew over 500 professional and amateur competitors for its eighth edition. Leov's World Cup team were in attendance, and just as with the previous weekend's race Leov's teammate Andrew Neethling proved to be the form rider to beat. Neethling won by the slimmest of margins with Leov only fractions back in 3rd place. Bennett had a forgettable weekend - off track excursions in both qualifying and in the race run putting paid to any hope of challenging for the podium, finishing with a disappointing 34th.

Brief Results US Open, New Jersey
1 Andrew Neethling (RSA) 2:19.60; 2 Gee Atherton (GBR) 2:20.10; 3 Justin Leov (NZL) 2:20.40; 4 Steve Smith (CAN) 2:21.00; 5 Sam Hill (AUS) 2:21.50; 34 Kieran Bennett (NZL) 2:36.50

US Open Full Results