But the rookie, who shook up the sport with a win in her debut event earlier this month, took a tumble on the fifth lap and slipped down the field.
However, she was able to finish in fourth place despite negotiating her way around the track with twisted handle bars and perhaps no brakes.
It was a gutsy effort from the hardy 20-year-old.
Her mother, Linda Duncan, told the Otago Daily Times her daughter was bruised but otherwise fine and looking forward to the second race which was scheduled for about 9pm New Zealand time last night.
‘‘It took her about 30sec to get back up on the bike and then the handle bars were bent and I don't think she had brakes,'' Linda said.
‘‘She managed to get back to fourth which was pretty bloody good considering there were 39 in the class.
‘‘It was a bit of a bummer. But [coach] Josh Coppins texted me and said she was all fine, just a bit sore.''
Duncan set the fastest time during the timed practice lap, outpacing four-time world champion Italian Kiara Fontanesi and local hope Nancy van de Ven.
With Duncan's crash taking her out of contention, van de Ven went on to win from Fontanesi, with 2008 world champion Livia Lancelot of France finishing in third place.
‘‘The girl that won, it was her home track and if you watch her she just knew what lines to take.
‘‘But Courtney was looking quite comfortable out there in the lead but these things happen.''
