Palmerston North rider Jonty Williamson has joined an elite trio of Kiwis to win a UCI junior Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup Series, after claiming the overall title in France.
The 17-year-old, who rides for the Yeti Fox Factory team, wrapped up the crown with his sixth win of the season at Les Gets, edging out Queenstown's Malik Boatwright by just 0.236 seconds for a Kiwi one-two.
Williamson has lost just once all season, and said the win in tricky, changeable conditions had not yet sunk in.
"It was really physical and tricky with the changing conditions, but I managed to put down a good run," he said.
"The track went from dry practice to completely wet and sort of in the middle today, which made it tricky to choose tyres and quite difficult."
Jonty Williamson trains on a home-made track carved out with friends and volunteers - and the 17-year-old has just become the first Kiwi to win a junior downhill World Cup title. (Source: Seven Sharp)
Speaking to Seven Sharp earlier this week, ahead of the deciding rounds, the teenager said the Palmerston North winters had toughened him up for the world stage.
"In winter up here the clay, super slippery, super difficult to ride, i think that probably helps me quite a bit when i go overseas," he said, rating his home track as "definitely around intermediate".
Williamson races a prototype Yeti downhill bike not yet available to the public.
"Super good bike, i'm loving it this season," he said, describing the machine's 200mm of travel that "absorbs all the impact" for a smoother run.
Williamson credited a group of mates and volunteers, including riders Cooper and Shawn, for helping build the local track he trains on.
"Just cool time with mates building up the track, and then we get to ride what we built and had a good time," he said.
"Some of the jumps are questionably built, blame the builders for that aye," he said, before conceding: "Yeah nothing i did."
Williamson's father told Seven Sharp the family had grabbed the chance when it came.
"Just take the opportunity and some amazing things can happen, and thats what's happened here, it's been an incredible journey," he said.
Boatwright, who rides for Continental Atherton, took his fourth runner-up finish of the season to sit more than 20 points clear in second overall, with the North American rounds still to come.
Taranaki's Camden Rutherfurd (Nikeproof Axess) placed seventh, while Queenstown's Indy Deavoll (Stoic Racing) came eighth in the junior women's final for fifth overall.
Williamson now turns his attention to the world championships.
"I'm looking ahead to the world champs - it will be a tricky race," he said.
"Everyone will be going pretty quick, but I want to keep the same momentum and put down a consistent run."
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