The 2024 Crankworx World Tour kicked off in Rotorua on Sunday with the elite downhill races and there was a podium finish for home favourite Jess Blewitt as she claimed second place in New Zealand. Here is all you need to know:
The downhill racing kicked off a week of action at Crankworx Rotorua and in the women’s elite race there was plenty to cheer for the home crowd as Kiwi riders dominated proceedings.
Shania Rawson was the first New Zealander to get the crowd off their feet as she went fastest with just a few riders remaining. But her lead didn’t last long as fellow Kiwi Blewitt produced a lightning-quick run to take the lead by almost five seconds.
Blewitt then watched on as her compatriot Eliana Hulsebosch rocketed down the track, delivering a faultless run as she finished almost six seconds clear of second place.
“Honesty, I haven’t got much left in the tank so I’m just stoked to see Eliana get the win. When I first started racing there weren’t many girls competing so it’s good to see more young riders and see how the sport has grown.”
Blewitt, 21, said:
In the men’s downhill event, New Zealand’s Lachlan Stevens-Mcnab stormed to victory, finishing 2.322 seconds clear of Canada’s Jakob Jewett and almost eight seconds ahead of compatriot Sam Blenkinsop in third.
Results – RockShox Taniwha Downhill
1) Lachlan Stevens-Mcnab (NZL) 2:45.612 // Eliana Hulsebosch (NZL) 3:24.130
2) Jakob Jewett (CAN) +2.322 // Jess Blewitt (NZL) +5.891
3) Sam Blenkinsop (NZL) +7.860 // Shania Rawson (NZL) +10.777