Cycling: Walker tops NZ BMX riders

Sarah Walker. Photo / Greg Bowker

New Zealand BMX rider Sarah Walker has finished third in the opening round of the Supercross World Cup series in South Africa.

The 22-year-old was pushed wide on the first turn in the final and did well to battle back to a podium placing at Pietermaritzburg.

Frenchwoman Manon Valentino won the women's final after being fastest in yesterday's Superfinal time trial.

Walker's compatriot Marc Willers crashed while challenging for second place on the second turn in his final.

American Corben Sharrah took advantage after pipping Willers to the first corner, going on to claim victory, after racing in the Oceania Continental event at Pukekohe recently.

Walker had won all three of her heats and dominated her semifinal in impressive fashion.

Willers, who is based in California, also won his three heats before settling for third in the quarterfinal and streeting the competition in his semifinal.

The next round of the World Cup is in the Netherlands next month.

Leading results:-

Women's final: Manon Valentino (France) 33.714sec 1, Maria Diaz (Argentina) 34.858 2, Sarah Walker (NZ) 36.116 3.

Semifinal 1: Valentino 34.400 1, Caroline Buchanan (Australia) 34.532 2, Stefany Hernandez (Venezuela) 34.800 3. Semifinal 2: Walker 33.929 1, Magalie Pottier (France) 34.792 2, Diaz 35.463 3.

Men's final: Corben Sharrah (US) 34.054 1, Khalen Young (Australia) 34.815 2, Joris Daudet (France) 35.095 3. Also: Marc Willers (NZ) 8.

Semifinal 1: Sharrah 33.901 1, Daudet 34.212 2, Young 34.608 3. Also: Kurt Pickard (NZ) 40.907 7. Semifinal 2: Willers 34.201 1, Raymon van der Biezen (Netherlands) 34.502 2, Robert de Wilde (Netherlands) 34.803 3.

Quarterfinal 2: Pickard 34.732 1, Young 34.894 2, Sharrah 35.622 3. Quarterfinal 3: Van der Biezen 33.844 1, Michael Robinson (Australia) 34.448 2, Willers 34.861 3.

- NZPA