Kiwi gravity rider Erice van Leuven dominated the field to win her second straight junior women’s downhill title at the 2024 UCI MTB World Championships in Andorra.
The 17-year-old from Hutt Valley was in a class of her own on the challenging 2.1km downhill course at Pal Arinsal, finishing more than six seconds clear of her nearest competitor.
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“This means so much to me. To back it up is incredible and to do it with some of my whanau here is really special,” said van Leuven.
It was again a multi-kiwi celebration, with Auckland’s Sacha Earnest repeating her bronze medal from last year in Glasgow.
New Zealand nearly pulled off another clean sweep, with 17-year-old Tauranga rookie, Eliana Hulsebosch finishing fourth, three seconds behind Earnest.
It was nearly-but-not-quite for outstanding Hawkes Bay 17-year-old, Tyler Waite who finished fourth, just 0.6s off the podium in his debut in the junior men’s downhill.
Van Leuven, who rides for the Commencal les Orres professional team, was in a league of her own in the junior women’s final.
As the top qualifier, she was last off, and was a second up after the first time check. She increased that to five seconds at marker two, six seconds at time check three and 6.5 seconds at the final from Sweden’s Ella Svegby.
Fellow kiwi Earnest, the Trek Factory rider, repeated her third placing from last year with a splendid performance. Only van Leuven was faster to the second time check, until she fell fractions behind the Swedish rider in the closing stages to secure her second podium in successive years.
Newcomer Hulsebosch, who was conservative in qualifying, was 11th fastest through the opening time check and sixth at the second. She picked up the pace to close the gap but finished 3.2 seconds behind Earnest.
“To get three of us in the top four is so sic,” said van Leuven. “Obviously it would have been really cool to get another 1-2-3 but three in the top four is pretty incredible – so stoked for us girls.
“I was really pleased with that run. It was a bit sketchy in spots but overall I was happy with it and was just having fun. With the changing conditions I was really focused and making sure I had my lines. Practice wasn’t great but finals was perfect.
“The track was very different because the elites practised in the mud yesterday, so that chewed up the track quite a lot. The grip for our race was actually perfect.”
American Asa Vermette edged his way to the junior men’s title pipping Frenchman Max Alran and compatriot Bode Burke.
Waite, who rides for the Yeti-Fox Factory team, was third fastest at the midway point but finished just 0.6s behind Burke.
“I am pretty happy with that especially coming back after breaking my wrist this year,” said Waite. “It’s my first time at the worlds in junior men so I am stoked.
“The track was different today and I was focussing on going as hard as possible without making a mistake, so I had to be pleased with it. I am pleased with fourth.”
In-form Christchurch rider Luke Wayman was seventh to add to the strong showing of young kiwi gravity riders.
Queenstown’s Rory Meek was 17th, Kaikoura’s Oli Clark 22nd, Wanganui’s Seth Stylie 24th and Rotorua’s Ryan Hastings 47th.
Qualifying for elite men and women is scheduled later today with finals in two days, with tomorrow’s action moving to cross-country with racing for junior females and males ahead of the short-track world titles for under-23 and elite riders, where kiwi Sam Gaze is pushing for a third straight rainbow jersey.
New Zealand Results,
Downhill Junior Women: Erice van Leuven (NZL) 2:31.890, 1; Ella Svegby (SWE) 2:38.436, 2; Sacha Earnest (NZL) 2:40.627, 3. Also other NZers: Eliana Hulsebosch 2:44.851, 4; Bella Birchall 2:54.629, 10.
Junior men: Asa Vermette (USA) 2:14.921, 1; Max Alran (FRA) 2:15.564, 2; Bode Burke (USA) 2:16.274, 3. Also New Zealand riders: Tyler Waite 2:16.904, 4; Luke Wayman 2:18.374, 7; Rory Meek 2:20.746, 17; Oli Clark 2:21.724, 22; Seth Stylie 2:21.096, 24; Ryan Hastings 2:28.936, 47.
Caption: Erice van Leuven celebrates winning the junior downhill at the 2024 UCI MTB World Championships in Pal Arinsal, Andorra. (Mandatory Credit: SWPix).
Audio: Erice van Leuven (attached)