New Zealand's Rosara Joseph and Nicola Leary continued their European campaigns yesterday at the Heubacher Mountainbike Festival, competing in the Bike the Rock multi-lap Cross Country race at Heubach, Germany.
The UCI category HC race drew a high class field, with the event positioned a week out from the next World Cup event in Offenburg - competitors eager to continue building form for the first points event in the 2012 London Olympics ranking process.
Beijing Olympian Joseph (Christchurch) and a fast improving Leary (Rotorua) worked hard in the muddy conditions to finish in 13th and 16th positions respectively. Crucially, these results also earn both athletes additional ranking points which will benefit their start grid positions at the next World Cup.
Having also raced in muddy conditions at the Houfalize World Cup two weeks before, both athletes are hoping for better conditions in Offenburg this weekend, but are also now proving proficient at dealing with the fast changing European conditions this summer.
Brief Results, Bike the Rock, Heubach, Germany (HC)
1 Annika Langvad (DEN) 1:16:37
2 Anja Gradl +19secs
3 Emily Batty (CAN) +1min 50secs
...
13 Rosara Joseph (NZL) +6min 11secs
16 Nicola Leary (NZL) +7min 39secs
