Racer Bike Cup, Champery, Switzerland

Two of New Zealand's most promising Cross Country athletes kicked off their 2010 European campaigns at Champery on Sunday, at the same venue as that planned for the 2011 World MTB Championships. Dirk Peters (Rotorua) and Richard Anderson (Blenheim) are travelling together this year, targetting key events in Europe in their build up to the 2010 World MTB Championships.

The Champery Racer Bike Cup drew a very strong, world class field with the current break in the World Cup Cross Country schedule. Dirk Peters lined up for the first time as an Under 23 rider against a vastly experienced multi national field including World Cup winners and former World Champions, finishing a respectable 28th in the short multi-lap event.

In the separate Under 19 Junior race, Anderson was also stretching his legs for his first 2010 international event after travelling from New Zealand at the end of May. Anderson will be encouraged by his 8th place and will build on this benchmark for the rest of his campaign.

Brief Results, Racer Bike Cup, Champery, Switzerland
Elite/U23
1 Julien Absalon (FRA) 1:29:54, 2 Moritz Milan (GER) +2:00; 3 Maxime Marotte (FRA) +3:07; 28 Dirk Peters (NZL) +16:21
U19
1 Michiel van der Heijen (NED) 1:08:18; 2 Roger Walder (SWI) +1:08; 3 Fabian Paumann (SWI) +1:21; 8 Richard Anderson (NZL) +3:55

Full Results Elite/U23
Full Results U19