Rising New Zealand mountain bike star, Sammie Maxwell, produced a superb efficiency to emerge from the pack to declare runner-up within the third spherical of the Whoop UCI MTB Cross-country World Sequence within the Czech Republic.
The Decathlon Ford rider was pressured to work her means by way of the sector after an detached quick observe race outcome earlier within the week noticed her begin from 25th on the grid. Maxwell labored her means ahead steadily, catching the leaders halfway by way of the eight-lap race on the famed course in Nové Mesto Na Moravé.
Maxwell diced with the leaders over the ultimate few laps, earlier than the kiwi and Austrian Mona Mitterwallner, the two-time marathon world champion, went clear on the ultimate lap. The younger kiwi recovered from a difficulty on the ultimate climb, because the pair moved clear with Mitterwallner ready to maintain off Maxwell in a frantic ultimate dash.
The 22-year-old kiwi maintains her total lead within the championship after three rounds, thrilled along with her kind and racing IQ in her first season in elite competitors.
“It was a completely unbelievable race. I’m super-proud about the way in which I’m racing – super-mature. I’m backing myself and I’m assured,” mentioned the New Zealand Olympian.
“Persons are making assaults at locations the place I don’t want to struggle for place or time, and I’m assured to allow them to go and know that I can catch them in the direction of the top of the race when issues get pointy. I’ve not burnt my matches and I’ve extra to give.
“I’m super-happy and excited and I’m wanting ahead to Leogang. The shape remains to be there and hopefully we will maintain constructing from right here.”
There was no such fortune within the males’s race with Sam Gaze, who had labored his means by way of the sector however had his hopes dashed with a crash late within the race, within the first race of the season for the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider.
Compatriot Anton Cooper (Lapierre Racing), who began again on the sixth row in his return to racing after most of final 12 months off, completed 53rd from 93 starters after threading his means by way of the packed discipline.
Fellow Christchurch rider Ethan Rose had his finest end within the under-23 race, with the Trek Future rider ending in 12th place, 1:46 behind the winner with Mondraker NZ riders Coen Nicol (Taupo) mid-field in 53rd forward of Whakatane’s Bailey Fredericksen.
Rising younger kiwi, Amelie Mackay (Christchurch) was 38th within the under-23 ladies’s race.
The UCI World Sequence strikes again to Downhill and Enduro competitors subsequent weekend at Loudenvielle within the French Pyrenees. The following spherical for cross-country is on the famend venue of Leogang in Austria in two weeks, which may even embrace downhill and enduro.
Outcomes, Elite Feminine: Mona Mitterwallner (Mondraker Manufacturing unit, NOR) 1:28.39, 1; Sammie Maxwell (Decathlon Ford, NZL) identical time, 2; Candice Lill (SAF) at 25s, 3; Alessandra Keller (Thomus Maxon, SUI) at 41s, 4; Rebecca Henderson (Orbea Fox, AUS) at 48s, 5.
Standings: Maxwell 757, Nicole Koller (SUI) 572, Evie Richards (GBR) 517.
Elite Male: Christopher Blevins (Specialised, USA) 1:26.00, 1; Mathis Azzaro (Origine Racing, FRA) at 7s, 2; Lars Forster (Thomus Maxon, SUI) identical time, 3; Victor Koretzky (Specialised, FRA) identical time, 4; Fabio Puntener (SUI) at 16s, 5. NZ riders: Anton Cooper (Lapierre Racing) at 2:43, 53; Sam Gaze (Alpecin Deceuninck) dnf.
Standings: Blevins 940, Koretzky 725, Martin Vidaurre Kossman (CHI) 566, 3.
Underneath-23 Male: Paul Schehl (GER) 1:19.32, 1; Rens Teunissen (NED) identical time, 2; Finn Treudler (SUI) at 12s, 3. Additionally NZers: Ethan Rose (Trek Future, Christchurch) at 1:46, 12; Coen Nicol (Mondraker NZ, Taupo) at 6:42, 54; Bailey Fredericksen (Mondraker NZ, Whakatane) 4 laps, 93.
Underneath-23 Feminine: Ella Macphee (CAN) 1:20.19, 1; Fiona Schibler (SUI) at 17s, 2; Sara Cortinovis (ITA) at 42s, 3. NZers: Amelie Mackay (Christchurch) at 8.13, 38;
