Hawke's Bay mountainbikers Brook MacDonald and George Brannigan powered their way on to the UCI World Cup podium yesterday.
The Trek World Racing Team teammates, both recovering from time off the bike with injury, finished fourth and fifth respectively on the stern downhill test in Leogang, Austria.
It was a welcome return to form for the super-popular MacDonald, nicknamed "The Bulldog" for his daring style, after recovering from shoulder surgery.
It has been a longer than expected road back to full fitness for the Kiwi, who has assumed the mantle as Trek World Racing's top rider. His seventh in qualifying at Fort William in Scotland last week was a sign he was close to regaining form.
Yesterday, he was again the fastest in the speed trap at over 50km/h and led at the first time point, with only a small error in the final sector costing him a top three placing.