Mountain Biking: Kiwis Cole and Blenkinsop in top 10 in Italy

Sam Blenkinsop, who broke his leg in January, has bounced back finishing eighth in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Italy. Photo / Wanganui Chronicle

New Zealand downhill teammates Cameron Cole and Sam Blenkinsop confirmed their return from injury with top-10 finishes in the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Italy overnight.

Cole, from Christchurch, recovered from a badly broken wrist that forced him to miss the opening round of the World Cup and flew down the Snake Pit course at Val di Sole to finish fifth.

His compatriot and fellow Lapierre International teammate Blenkinsop, who broke his leg in January, also bounced back to top form to finish eighth.

It marked an impressive effort from the five New Zealand pro riders who all finished in the top-20, as the predicted wet weather stayed away.

Both Blenkinsop and Cole had turns in the hot seat after their respective runs took them to the top of the standings although American Aaron Gwin proved himself in a different league by thundering down the course eight seconds faster than anyone else.

Cole was conservative at the first split, just the 33rd fastest time of the 80 qualifiers, but roared down the rest of the track to clock 3:20.320, which proved only 1.2sec off the third place, while Blenkinsop hammered the bottom section to record 3:21.885.

The Hawkes Bay pair of Brook Macdonald (MS Mondraker) and George Brannigan (DeVinci Global) were 15th and 16th respectively while Gwin's Trek World Racing teammate, Justin Leov (Dunedin) was 17th.

Macdonald, who was in top form after a strong showing in the European Cup downhill last weekend, was not satisfied with his run today.

"I'm not happy with the result today. I had a solid run but wasn't up there," Macdonald said.

The women's honours went to former world champion Rachel Atherton (GBR).

The World Cup action hots up with a further round at Fort William in Scotland this weekend before crossing the Atlantic for rounds in Canada and USA in a tough test of bikes and bodies.

Results UCI Rocky Roads Mountain Bike World Cup, Val di Sole:

Elite men, downhill: Aaron win (USA, Trek World Racing) 3:10.577, 1; Greg Minnaar (RSA, Santa Cruz Synd) 3:18.427, 2; Gee Atherton (GBR, GT Factory) 3:18.970, 3. Also New Zealanders: Cameron Cole (Lapierre International) 3:20.320, 5; Sam Blenkinsop (Lapierre International) 3:21.885, 8; Brook Macdonald (MS Mondraker) 3:23.297, 15; Grant Brannigan (DeVinci Global) 3:24.524, 16; Justin Leov (Trek World Racing) 3:25.116, 17.

Elite women: Rachel Atherton (GBR, GT Factory) 3:49.436, 1; Myriam Nicole (FRA, Commercial) 3:53.921, 2; Emmeline Ragot (FRA, MS Mondraker) 3:57.519, 3.

Standings after two of seven rounds, men: Gwin and Minnaar 450, equal 1; Atherton 315, Marc Beaumont (GBR) 228, Steve Smith (CAN) 215, 5. Also New Zealanders: Leov 143, 13; Macdonald 139, 14; Cole 126, 18; Blenkinsop 123, 22; Brannigan 115, 26.

- APNZ