Christchurch teenager stuns champion at UCI World Cup

Brilliant Christchurch teenager Anton Cooper upset the new European champion to win the junior men’s title at the UCI Mountain bike World Cup in the Czech Republic today.

The 16 year old, who was having his first start in a UCI World Cup, blitzed the field to beat favourite Jans Schuermans (Belgium) by 1min 43sec in 1:05.10 at Nove Mesto Na Morave.

Schuermans,19, who won the European Championship last weekend, led on the first lap with Cooper following before the Belgium fell back and the young kiwi took control. He won comfortably from Schuermans with Spain’s Pabli Rodriguez third.

The Christchurch Boys High School student won a warm-up event in Switzerland last week and was using the World Cup to prepare for the upcoming World Championships in France at the end of the month.
It continues a stunning season for the young Cantabrian who won the Oceania and New Zealand under-19 titles, he became the youngest rider to win the famed Karapoti race and set a new record when he won the Motutapu mountain bike race.

“This was the first time I rode a World Cup. It was hard. Jens went very quickly in the first lap, but I could stay with him and eventually win the race,” he said.

Results: Anton Cooper (NZL) 1:05.10, 1; Hens Schuermans (BEL) at 1:43, 2; Pablo Rodriguez (ESP) at 1:57, 3; Didier Bats (BEL) at 3:21, 4; Romain Seigle (FRA) at 3:22, 5.