Sam supreme on tough track | Manawatu-Wanganui Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Manawatu-Wanganui

Wanganui professional mountainbiker Sam Blenkinsop came through a week of competition on the downhill track rated one of the toughest in the world, by picking up a second and a third in massive fields at Whistler in canada.

Blenkinsop showed his form, leading into the World Championships in mont Saint Annes, Quebec at the end of this month, could not be any better.

The Crankworx MTB Festival in Whistler runs a downhill course more than three times the length of a standard World Cup downhill course, has more than 100 jumps, and Blenkinsop finished second in the Air Downhill field of 380, just half a second behind five-times winner Brian Lopes (United States).

"I've been riding the course all week and it's a sick track," joked Blenkinsop. "It was hard to race though with all the jumps and trying to stay low and fast, there was defiantly a few flat landings going on but I'm stoked to come with a good result."

Fellow Kiwi Brook McDonald (MS Evil racing) put together a solid run for 22nd place. Justin Leov (Trek World racing) came in with 57th place

Sunday's Garbanzo Downhill is widely regarded as one of the most sustained and intense downhill racing experiences on the international calendar.

Blenkinsop ran third, right behind Leov (second).