Mountain-biking: Kiwi novice lays down the law

New Zealand mountain biker Rosara Joseph celebrates winning the silver medal yesterday. Pictures / John Borren

If she ever gets really serious and concentrates all her efforts on riding her mountain bike, who knows how good Rosara Joseph could really be?

A virtual novice, Joseph, 24, who juggles her sport with legal studies and work, chased home Canadian favourite Marie-Helene Premont to claim silver in the 40.55km cross-country mountain-biking race yesterday.

In the top three throughout the six-lap race, Joseph did not shake off Canadian Kiara Bisaro until after the fourth lap but then put nearly 1 minute on her in the ride home.

The fourth rider to complete the course was well back as were the other New Zealanders Robyn Wong (6th) and Sonia Foote (8th).

Joseph's attention will now switch to August's world championships in Rotorua and beyond that a return to study as she takes up the Rhodes Scholarship she was awarded last year. She is off to do a BCL (law masters degree) at Oxford in October.

"I have been working as a law clerk in the Court of Appeal since I completed my BA and law degrees at Canterbury University," she said. "But with not having to be in England until October I can have a decent go at mountain-biking before that.

"I need to race in Europe to get the UCI points I need to make it into the field for the world championships."

Kashi Leuchs mixed it in the chasing bunch in the 53km (eight-lap) men's race before fading to fifth, 21s behind runaway early leader Chris Jongewaard (Australia).

Mike Northcott finished eighth, almost six minutes behind Leuchs with Clinton Avery the third of the New Zealanders across in 16th.

Joseph was the standout for New Zealand with her gutsy ride in conditions riders described as different.

At one stage Premont was paced by a kangaroo. Later, television cameras focused on a snake that quietly slid along beside the course.

The Canadians set the early pace before Joseph spoilt their party. Timing her effort superbly, Joseph dragged her way past, Bisaro and rode home strongly.

"It was hard work on the climbs and in the forest section," said Joseph, who had a spill but was quickly back chasing.

"Kiara had a great start so it was always going to be hard. When I got up to her before the big descent, I played it safe as I did not want to risk crashing."

At the finish she was greeted by her proud parents, brother and sister, and boyfriend Selby Marshall - the team mechanic.

The strength built from many kilometres of hard slog on the Port Hills in Christchurch were invaluable yesterday as she powered her way around the testing circuit in the picturesque course in the designated State Mountain Bike park.

"I had two main races I wanted to focus on this year: the Commonwealth Games and the worlds. In the past I have sometimes lacked confidence going into my races, but a result like this can only help build that."

Asked how she felt as the Canadian duo seemed set to ride away, Joseph said she hoped they, Bisaro in particular, would fade.

"I had the crowd telling me the gap was closing, and I was able to get up to second and hold on," she said. "I have ridden tougher courses than this, so I was not too concerned."

Leuchs led the chase after Jongewaard through the early laps but could not hold the wheels he needed when the pace picked up and the English duo of Liam Killeen and Oli Beckingsdale chased the runaway Australian.

"It was fast; it was tough," said Leuchs after his fifth-place finish - one back from his placing four years ago. "It was a really different course from the ones we normally race. There were a lot of sections around the back where you could not pedal.

"In the end I could not hold on. Those guys burnt my legs off.

"It was a case of who could hold on the longest."

Leuchs said he was not worried when Jongewaard put more than 1 minute on the field.

"The Aussies do it every single race."

There will be little rest for the 27-year-old as he faces the first World Cup race of the year in 10 days.

"While the course blew me - it's not my style - I know I now have good form in my legs."