Josh Gosselin. (0567603)
A PAIR of Guernsey cyclists proved that they are up there with the best as they had a triumphant time in the New Zealand Mountain Bike Cross-Country Cup.
Josh Gosselin, 22, and Danny Shaw, 32, who both represented Guernsey at last year’s Island Games in Rhodes, have recently returned to the Bailiwick after taking part in the prestigious series on the other side of the world.
Some of the best mountain bikers entered the championship. Shaw, competing in the masters’ category, managed to get on the podium once while Gosselin won two races in the seniors’ class.
‘It was absolutely brilliant – we were both really chuffed,’ said Gosselin about the three-month trip.
The cup is made up of three rounds in the South Island followed by another three in the North Island.
After missing the first round, the Sarnians had to sit out the second round as well as Shaw’s bike had failed to arrive in time.
In the third round at Waipara, Shaw, now with his bike, came third in his class while Gosselin came fourth in his.
In the first round of the North Island event at Opotiki, Gosselin pulled out all the stops to claim gold in the seniors as Shaw came fifth in the larger masters class.
In round two at Rotorua, Gosselin missed out on gold and silver but claimed bronze.
Shaw came seventh, a result that he repeated in the last race at Palmerston North.
But Gosselin was the star again as he found himself on top of the podium for a second time in his category that had 90 riders.
He also finished 32nd out of the total of 1,000 entrants.
‘That was my best ride,’ said Gosselin.
After the Cross-Country Cup had finished, the pair entered the New Zealand National Championships in Wellington.
In the hill climb that started in the grounds of Wellington College and was 2.2km long, rising 154m, Gosselin came fifth in the open category.
He did one better in the cross-country race, coming fourth in the senior men, one behind fellow Guernsey Island Games cyclist Drew Blatchford, who now lives in Australia and had flown over for the race.
Shaw produced the best performance of his trip as he came third in the masters.
‘That was the race of my life,’ said Shaw.
‘I was behind two ex-pros in that one so I can’t complain. It was the third time I’d been there [in the New Zealand Mountain Bike Cross-Country Cup] and it just gets better every time.
‘The top guys over there are world class. That was my best visit.’
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