UCI Mountainbike World Cup, Downhill Round 3, Leogang, Austria: Kiwis again claim top ten honours

For the second World Cup in a row, New Zealand's Downhill athletes claimed the most top ten results of any nation at this pinnacle event. The Leogang venue had turned on a real mix of weather which required very quick adaptation to the conditions right through practice and qualifying, however race day was fine with a fast drying race course. The cluggy, wet clay riders had to deal during the first two days of the Leogang programme dried to a point where Sunday's racing was typical, brutal and close World Cup.

Justin Leov (Trek World Racing, Dunedin) raced with real consistency and followed his strong 6th place in qualifying to be the best of the Kiwis in 8th. Sam Blenkinsop (Lapierre International, Wanganui) claimed a 9th, and last weekend's podium star Brook MacDonald (MS Evil Racing, Napier) rounded out the top ten for New Zealand after spending a long time in the race leaders hot seat.

Eight New Zealanders were on the entry list, and seven made it through from the 270 strong field to qualify in the top 80 for Sunday's race. Other results from the group were Cam Cole (Lapierre International, Christchurch) in 24th, Matt Scoles (Cingolani-Trek) in 29th, George Brannigan (Devinci Global, Hawkes Bay) 55th, and Wyn Masters (MS Evil Racing, New Plymouth) 61st. Tom Matthews (Christchurch) had his first World Cup start of the season, but didn't progress past the qualifying round.

Results, Leogang World Cup