NZ Mountainbikers Around the World May 21/22

New Zealand's Mountainbike athletes have begun making their mark across the northern hemisphere again this year, in search of victories and success at world class events in North America and Europe. Summaries of key performances from the weekend of May 21/22 follow.

Brook MacDonald Wins at Todtnau, Germany: iXS European Downhill Cup
Hawkes Bay's Brook MacDonald (MS Evil Racing/Red Bull) won at Round Two of the European Downhill Cup. MacDonald is racing the full iXS series with teammate Wyn Masters (New Plymouth) this year in between World Cup races, and claimed his Todtnau win in perfect conditions and against a very strong field of 317 entrants from 20 different nations. Masters, returning from a serious arm injury suffered during the NZ summer is working his way back up to speed, with an 11th place finish.
Full Results Todtnau

Justin Leov 2nd at Plattekill, New York (USA): US Pro Gravity Tour
Justin Leov (Dunedin, Trek World Racing) continues to race his way back into form with a second place at the latest round of the US Pro Gravity Tour. Leov's teammate Aaron Gwinn won the event, however Leov was very happy with his performance on a near perfectly dry course after scattered showers right through the practice day sessions. Leov had also qualified in first position, displaying his trademark consistency. "It was a full-on track and to get down with little mistakes was great. Big lines were happening and it just goes to show how the sport keeps developing, and what we end up being able to do on our Session 88's. I've been coming up with my riding/racing these last few weeks so I'm excited to get on with the US Open next week and then back into the World Cups. I’m extremely happy with how my run went."
Full Results Platekill

Rosara Joseph 20th, Karen Hanlen 22nd at Dalby Forest, Yorkshire (UK): UCI World MTB Cup
Rosara Joseph (Christchurch, RaboBank-Giant) raced at the 2nd round of the MTB World Cup on Sunday. Following up her 13th place from World Cup Round 1 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, Joseph raced to a solid 20th at what is generally regarded as the hardest cross country race course on the World Cup circuit. And in a stunning World Cup debut performance, Whakatane's Karen Hanlen finshed a mere nine seconds behind Joseph for a 22nd place finish. The ex-multisport athlete (in her first season of mountainbike competition) set the NZ domestic season on fire this summer, and has travelled to Europe to further her fast track ambitions for world class NZ representation. Certainly not over-awed at all by her first World Cup, Hanlen will gain a massive confidence boost from her race. Beijing Olympian Joseph and Hanlen now get set for the 3rd Cross Country round of the World MTB Cup this coming weekend at Offenburg, Germany.
Full Results Dalby