Cooper shows his form withn win

MARK LAWSON/Timaru Herald

TOUGH GOING: The X Scenic Mountainbike race proved challenging for all riders. Nicola Howes negotiates the course during the elite women's race.

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The boy they call "pocket rocket' certainly lived up to his name as he proved too strong for a competitive field, winning the X Scenic mountainbike race at Centennial Park on Sunday.

Anton Cooper was able to continue his hot run of form by winning the 40 kilometre event, after being crowned the under-17 Australian champion the previous weekend.

The 15-year-old left his Canterbury team-mates, and training partners, Bradley Hudson and Logan Horn, battling for second place, as he proved too strong in the final 13km lap.

Cooper said he was able to get a winning break by using the single-track areas of the circuit.

"I got away from Brad on the tight, windy stuff, he's a bit bigger [than me] which makes it a bit harder for him.

"The technical stuff is my strength really.

"Brad and Logan always push me real hard, we always have great battles no matter what race we are in."

Cooper said he was hoping to race in three of the four South Canterbury Mountainbike Cup races, which he needs to do to be eligible to win the competition.

The first South Canterbury rider home was Thomas Prestidge, who beat fellow South Cantabrian Craig Atwill home in a sprint to the finish line.

Prestidge said he was happy with his top 10 place: "I've been off the bike for the last couple of weeks so I was pleased.

"I was originally training for the nationals, but then I started to get some back problems, so now I'm just riding my bike as opposed to training for something."

Prestidge said it was great to see so many Canterbury riders come down for the race.

"It's real good to race [the Canterbury riders], because it means you get your own speed up, although it's frustrating not to be able to keep up with them.

Atwill said an injury during practice had hindered his lead-up to the race but he was happy with his effort, despite losing the sprint to the line to the younger Prestidge.

Geraldine's Lucy Urbancova proved too strong for her opposition, claiming the women's title.

- © Fairfax NZ News