Cycling: Quin closes season with fourth in Italy

World champion downhiller Vanessa Quin has wrapped up her season in style with a fourth placing at the World Cup mountainbiking finals in Livigno, Italy.

A week after winning the world title in Les Alps in France, Quin's fourth placing on the six-event World Cup circuit put her fifth overall in the standings.

"I got to wear the rainbow jersey while I was racing and on the podium [in Italy] and I really feel on top of the world right now," she said.

"The track was amazing, fast and rough. It is going to be the world championship course for next year so it was good to get to race it and see what will be needed to defend my title next year.

"The town is at altitude and this played a part in my race as halfway down I felt my lungs, for sure. I just wanted a clean run and good points for the overall placing so fourth was good for me."

Quin's best downhill finish for the season was third in Schlamding, Austria.

She has headed back to her base in Manchester for two months rest and will be back in New Zealand in December.

Quin, 27, had a memorable season, hurling herself down the 2.1km world championship course in France in 3m 8.4s to win gold.

A professional downhill rider for eight years, she has her sights on the 2006 world championships in Rotorua.


- NZPA