A 36-strong New Zealand team has been named for the UCI MTB World Championships at Val di Sole in Italy this month.
Last year, the Cycling New Zealand team garnered five medals at the world championships in Switzerland, with two podiums coming in enduro racing to be staged separately downhill and cross-country this year.
However, the New Zealand contingent could pose an even-stronger challenge in the northern Italian region of Trentino from August 26-30, with six kiwi riders currently ranked in the top-10 in their respective classes of the UCI MTB World Series.
Trek Unbroken gravity rider, Sacha Earnest from Auckland is currently seventh in the elite women’s rankings, following back-to-back podiums, with Queenstown’s Jess Blewitt (Scott Downhill) 12th.
Nine kiwi downhill riders finished in the top 10 in their respective grades at the last round in in Andorra led by white-hot Manawatu junior, Jonty Williamson (Yeti Fox Factory), who won his fifth title of the year.
Behind Williamson in junior men, Queenstown’s Malik Boatwright (Continental Atherton) has bagged four podiums, to be third overall, with Taranaki’s Camden Rutherfurd (Nukeproof Axess) 10th.
Queenstown rider Indy Deavoll (Stoic Racing) is the leading kiwi in junior women currently in fifth overall, while first-year elite Tyler Waite (Yeti Fox) from Hawkes Bay is the best of the men in 18th.
It has been challenging for New Zealand cross-country riders, led by Oceania champion Anton Cooper, with Sam Gaze battling with poor draws after taking the early part of the season to compete successfully in the six-day 700km Cape Epic in South Africa.
Paris Olympian Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford) will make her World Cup return ahead of the World Championships, following an extended break after winning the women’s series title in her rookie elite year.
“I’m so happy to be back with the team. I’m truly grateful to have had the chance to dedicate the past few months to myself, but I’ve really missed racing. I want to thank the people who, between New Zealand and Europe, shared this period with me and respected my choices and my timing. I can’t wait to see the whole team again and to pin a race number on my back,” said Maxwell.
The UCI MTB World Series returns in two weeks with the next round of enduro followed by downhill and cross-country on August 21-23, at Les Gets in the Haute Savoie region of France, bordering Switzerland and Italy.
The World Championships are the following week from August 26-30.
The New Zealand team for the UCI World Championships at Val di Sole August 26-30 is:
Cross-country (XCO/XCC):
Male, Under-19: Levi Gear (Rotorua MTB Club), James Climo (Te Miro MTB Club), Cody Hawke (Christchurch Single Track), Thomas Mollison (Totara Park MTB Club).
Under-23: Fletcher Adams (Hamilton MTB Club)
Elite: Anton Cooper (Lapierre PXR Racing, Christchurch), Sam Gaze (Alpecin Premier Tech, Cambridge)
Female, Under-19: Millie Junge (Christchurch Single Track), Kayley McMillan (Te Miro MTB Club), Dulcie Copeland (Mountain Bike Tauranga)
Under-23: Annabel Bligh (Christchurch Single Track)
Elite: Amelie Mackay (Christchurch Single Track), Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing, Taupo)
Downhill:
Male, Under-19: Dexter Lock (New Plymouth), Camden Rutherfurd (Nukeproof Axess, New Plymouth), Jonty Williamson (Yeti Fox Factory, Palmerston North), Seppy Binsbergen (New Plymouth), Malik Boatwright (Atherton Racing, Queenstown), Sterling Stevens-McNab (The Alliance, Rotorua), Kalani Henderson (New Plymouth). Non-travelling reserve: Cole Hulsebosch (Tauranga).
Elite: Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (MS Racing, Rotorua), Luke Wayman (Continental Atherton, Christchurch), Lachlan Stevens-McNab (Trek Unbroken, Rotorua), Tyler Waite (Yeti Fox Factory, Clive), James Macdermid (The Alliance, Hamilton), Seth Stylie (Yeti Fox Racing, Auckland), Oli Clark (Mondraker Factory, Kaikoura). Non-travelling reserve: Cooper Millwood (Yeti Fox Racing, Alexandra).
Female, Under-19: Indy Deavoll (Stoic Racing, Queenstown), Ursula Summers (Alliance Racing, Auckland), Millie Waite (Hastings), Capella Martin (Martinborough).
Elite: Kate Hastings (Rotorua), Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory, Rotorua), Sacha Earnest (Trek Unbroken, Auckland), Eliana Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz Syndicate, Tauranga), Jess Blewitt (Scott Factory, Queenstown).
Sammie Maxwell in action at the Paris Olympics