Springwood’s Blake Nielsen has taken Elite Men’s silver at the second round of the NSW Downhill series at Del Rio, near Wiseman’s Ferry.
Barely a second behind Woodberry (NSW) rider Graeme Mudd, Nielsen was in great form all weekend, despite a change in conditions on race day which left the track muddy and slick.
The wet weather didn’t deter Nielsen, who said: “I just ride the same lines I practised and commit, there’s nothing more fun than being on the edge of control on my bike”.
This September, Nielsen will be a part of the Australian Four Cross Mountain Biking team who will travel to Leogang, Austria for the UCI World Championships. Last year Nielsen was on the same team for the same event, though a debilitating knee injury saw him qualify 35th.
The June 22-23 Del Rio meet was an important feature in Nielsen’s racing calendar for the year, and formed part of his rigid training schedule in preparation for his ultimate race in Austria.
The next round of the NSW Downhill series will take place at Ourimbah State Forest on August 23 and 24. The NSW series is organised by Rocky Trail Entertainment and is endorsed by the NSW Government.
