Subaru Oceania Downhill
The reigning UCI World Men's Downhill Champion Fabien Barel (France) and 2004 UCI Womens Downhill Champion Vanessa Quin (NZ) have shown their class and a clean set of wheels to win the Elite Men's and Women's divisions at the Subaru Oceania Downhill Championships in Rotorua. In a top quality field, which included a number of the world's best riders, Barel and Quin thrilled the thousands in the crowd and found some nearly impossible lines on the steep, fast and technical Mount Ngongotaha course. Sam Hill of Australia took out second place in Elite Men to be crowned the Oceania Champion (Barel is not eligible) and Cedric Gracia (France, also ineligible for Oceania medals) was third across the line. Michael Hannah (Australia) came in fourth after posting the fastest qualifying run received the Oceania Champs silver medal and Kieran Bennett (New Zealand) was awarded the bronze. In the womens field Sabrina Jonnier (France) and Tracy Moseley (UK) who took out second and third were using the Oceania Champs as a chance to take a look at the course for the New Zealand Community Trust UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships in August and were impressed - vowing to come back later in the year faster and fitter. 2004 Junior World champion Scarlett Hagen (NZL) came in fourth overall and picked up the silver medal in the Oceania Champs with up and coming junior rider Tracy Hannah (Australia) coming in fifth overall and earning the Oceania bronze medal. The race was a huge success and a great dry run for the World Champs where even bigger crowds and faster times are expected. If you didn’t make it to Rotorua this weekend make sure you pencil Saturday, August 26 into your diary. www.2006rotoruamtb.comLatest news
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