Cooper on podium

Anton Cooper has become just the second Kiwi cyclist to secure a cross-country World Cup podium with a third placing in Germany yesterday. The 23-yearold Trek Factory Racing rider claimed the bronze medal in the second round of the UCI World Cup in Albstadt behind Olympic and world champion Nino Schurter and world cyclo-cross champion Mathew van der Poel. ‘‘Third place in Albstadt. I amso stoked to put the Kiwi jersey on an elite World Cup podium,’’ Cooper said. The only New Zealander to previously earn a World Cup podium is understood to be Kashi Leuchs more than a decade ago. Compatriot Sam Gaze, the current under-23 world champion, did not finish.