15 Sep 2008

Wanganui rider wins world cup mountainbike title

6:34 am on 15 September 2008

Wanganui's Sam Blenkinsop has become the first BikeNZ rider to win a Mountain Bike World Cup title.

The 19-year-old professional has won the third round of the UCI Downhill in Austria.

Blenkinsop produced a stunning performance on the demanding and long Schladming course, which has already earned a reputation as one of the all-time classic courses in his just its third year of hosting a World Cup event.

The young New Zealander sped down the course to beat off former world champion Sam Hill (Australia), current world champion Gee Atherton (GBR) and World Cup leader Greg Minnaar (South Africa).

Fellow New Zealander and Fox Yeti team-mate Justin Leov of Blenheim finished sixth.