RaboPlus MTB Cups- XC results from Queenstown

Coronet Peak skifield was the venue for the third and final round of the NZCT South Island Cross Country Cup as part of the Raboplus MTB Cup series presented by Nature Valley. The race course was a 5.3km lap with stunning views over the Lake Wakatipu area. However, riders had no time to enjoy the scenery while competing, completing between three and seven laps per category.

The Elite Men were set seven grueling laps, which made for a tough race. Top place getter Mike Northcott (Taupo) lead from the start with Brendon Sharratt (Christchuch) passing him during lap five to briefly lead. Sharratt faded slightly in lap six, finally finishing third with Marcus Roy (Invercargill) taking second place. Northcott said ‘it was a good battle with Brendon for most of the race, Marcus was looking strong on the last lap so I lifted the tempo, and the others surely made me work for it but I am pleased with my win in the end’.

Dirk Peters (Rotorua) placed fourth in his first race in the Elite Men category after being invited to race the Elite field after astounding results at previous rounds in the U19 Juniors. Peters said ‘it was a great opportunity to race in Elite, it was tough but it made me really push myself and I am pleased with my result’.

In the Elite Women category, Samara Sheppard (Wellington) made a strong comeback after less successful racing at rounds one and two. Sheppard was all smiles as she crossed the finish line saying ‘it was an awesome course, Jeannette kept it challenging’. Jeannette Gerrie (Christchurch) placed second with Katherine O’Neill (Auckland) battling it out for third.

BikeNZ Chief Executive Kieran Turner also participated in the race, placing fifth in the 30-40 Masters Men category. Turner was impressed with the level of racing and particularly pleased with the venue, saying ‘it is the most fantastic place to have a mountain bike race, it is such an amazing setting and we are lucky to be able to use Coronet Peak for the cross country as well as the downhill races’.

This completes the NZCT South Island Cross Country Cup. Riders will now be in preparation mode for the Raboplus National Mountainbike Championships, which are being held in Nelson 26 February to 1 March and include Cross Country, Downhill, Four Cross, Hillclimb, Dual Slalom and Short Track Cross Country races.

Results - South Island Cross Country Cup Round 3 - Queenstown
Elite Men

1 Mike Northcott, Taupo, 2:06:33; 2 Marcus Roy, Invercargill, 2:07:02; 3 Brendon Sharratt , Christchurch, 2:07:57.

Elite Women

1 Samara Sheppard, Wellington, 1:48:15; 2 Jeanette Gerrie, Christchurch, 1:49:03; 3 Katherine O’Neill, Auckland, 1:51:55.

Full results available at www.bikenz.org.nz/mtbcups