Peters best of Kiwi mountain bikers at World Cup
Monday 27 May 2013, 12:17PM
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Rotorua mountain biker Dirk Peters understands that 13 is not an unlucky number after he achieved his best World Cup finish in the Czech Republic today.
Peters, a narrow runner-up to world champion Anton Cooper in the national championships, has finished a strong 13th in the under-23 division cross country race at Nove Mesto Na Morave, one place better than his previous best on the same course last year.
He led the New Zealanders on the first day of action at the popular stop, with the cross country course providing long challenging climbs and significant technical areas that included several rock sections, including one on the flat part of the course.
Peters, who began fast and faded in Germany last week, this time started more conservatively before powering through the field to 13th with the eighth fastest final lap time.
Fellow Kiwis Sam Shaw (Rotorua) and Adrian Retief (Auckland) were one lap and two laps down respectively.
Rangiora teenager Ben Oliver recorded his second strong performance in eight days to placed 14th in the junior race, following his 10th place last week.
His brother Craig showed he is recovering from illness to finish 27th and Craig Lawson Wellington) was 69th.
Another Rotorua rider Amber Johnston, the Oceania champion, improved from last week to be 18th in another solid display.
Carl Jones (Whakatane), Katie O’Neil (Rotorua), Kate Fluker (Queenston) and Samara Sheppard (Wellington) compete in the elite racing overnight.
Results:
Women juniors: Greta Weithaler (ITA) 1:01:19, 1; Malene Degn (DEN) at 4 secs, 2; Sofia Widenroth (GER) at 16s, 3. Also: Amber Johnston (NZL) at 6:27, 18.
Men Junior: Raphael Gay (FRA) 1:04:51, 1; Romain Boutet (FRA) at 26sec, 2; Lukas Baum (ITA) at 36s, 3.
Also New Zealanders: Ben Oliver at 3:19, 14; Craig Oliver at 5:46, 27; Simon Lawson at 10:50, 69.
Men Under-23: Jens Schuermans (BEL) 1:15.51, 1; Reto Indergand (SUI) at 1:14, 2; Michiel van der Heijden (NED) at 1:38, 3. Also New Zealanders: Dirk Peters at 3:54, 13; Sam Shaw at 1 lap, 76; Adrian Retief at 2 laps, 99.