New Zealand's Anton Cooper has finished second in a Paris Olympics test event. Photo: UCI
Mountain biker Anton Cooper has shown a liking for next year's Paris Olympic cross-country course after finishing second in today's test event.
Cooper was pipped in the sprint finish by French rider Victor Koretzky with 10-time world champion with Rio Olympic gold medallist, Nino Schurter third.
The cross country circuit for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is located on the Elancourt hill - west of Paris.
Each 4.4km loop has an elevation gain of 110m with a variety of technical challenges with a rock gardens and jumps.
Rotorua's Sam Thompson, the Cycling New Zealand MTB high performance campaign manager, said the course had impressed riders more than at first glance.
"It is a power course with short punchy climbs which required riders to be on and off the power quickly to maintain momentum," said Thompson.
"I think it is a course that suits Anton.
"Organisers are expected to make some changes as a result of feedback from riders and coaches at this event but overall it was better than some thought it would be."
Cooper said the course is mostly man-made but on the back of his performance today, it was one that suits his style.
He got away in a group of seven mid race before he and Koretzky edged ahead of Shurter on the final lap, with the Frenchman too strong in the sprint.
Teammate Sam Gaze, returning from illness that forced his withdrawal form the La Vuelta Grand Tour recently, finished 27th nearly three and a half minutes from the winer.
Meanwhile North Harbour rider Rico Bearman has maintained his lead in the under-23 BMX World Series after the sixth round in France.
Bearman, who won the first four rounds of the championship this year, had to settle for sixth place in the under-23 final in Sarrians, after the fifth round was cancelled due to high winds at the weekend.
-RNZ
