Mountainbiking: Quin targets world title

Downhill mountain biker Vanessa Quin will compete in the Sea Otter Classic in California this weekend before embarking on the World Cup circuit in Europe in her quest to retain her world championship this year

Quin, 28, will race this season in the rainbow jersey, the privilege of winning the world title in France last year.

Her main focus, she said, was her title defence in Italy in September.

"I've had a really busy summer, I'm just quite happy to be going and racing," Quin said.

"Maybe that is a change for me.

"You can just run your game plan and if you do good, you do good, and if you don't, that's when you start missing home."

Quin finished her summer with a couple of second placings at the national BMX championships in Christchurch, finishing behind fellow Bay of Plenty star, 16-year-old Sarah Walker.

That performance has convinced her to have another crack at the world BMX championships in France in July. She had surprised herself by finishing eighth in the cruiser division of the same event last year.

"I've always had a really strong connection with BMX and I've always enjoyed riding it."

Quin will again be based in England. She will race the eight rounds of the World Cup series beginning in Spain at the end of the month. Further rounds are in Germany, Austria, Quebec, Brazil, United States, Italy and Scotland.

- NZPA