In just her second significant race of the year, Sammie Maxwell fought her way to an impressive fifth place at the UCI MTB World Championship elite women’s cross-country in Italy today.
Maxwell, who rides for the Decathlon Ford professional team, found herself two minutes behind leader Sina Frei (SUI) mid-race but bided her time before powering up the brutal climbs at Vai di Sole to push up to fifth overall.
Frei dominated to win in 1:27.50 from Italy’s Martina Berta and Switzerland’s Martina Keller who sprinted for the podium over a minute behind the winner.
Maxwell started her push three laps from the finish of the seven-lap test with gruelling climbs and slippery twists and turns. The kiwi rider found some extra energy, working off riders ahead to power up to fifth overall, 1:48 behind the winner and only 30 seconds from the podium. In doing so Maxwell was the fastest rider over the final four laps.
“I was pleased with my commitment to my race plan and my fight in the middle of the race,” said Maxwell.
“I had a good start then I thought was going backwards and a few girls caught me,” said Maxwell. “I saw Jenny (Rissveds) and knew I could hold her wheel. Thanks to her pacing, I was able to get back into the race.
“When we got to the pointy end of the race, I found I had some juice left in the legs. The way I was able to focus and keep fighting was pleasing.
“The key was knowing I am resilient and knowing that when I started going backwards, that all my negative thoughts were because I care about this result. The only thing to do was keep going and things came right for me.”
It proved tougher for fellow Paris Olympian Sam Gaze in the packed men’s race, with the Alpecin Premier Tech professional finding himself in the middle pack as the leading group pushed clear.
The honours in the men’s race went to two-time Olympic champion Tom Pidcock (GBR) who was able to ride through the field from mid-pack, catching the lead pack and riding off the front with a lap remaining.
Paris Olympian Sam Gaze was unable to find space from the back of the field on the tight track but worked with fellow Alpecin-Premier Tech pro teammate Mathieu van der Poel to finish in the top 30. Fellow kiwi Anton Cooper finished 53rd
Earlier Annabel Bligh (Christchurch) rode steady lap times in the under-23 women, but just missed the cut with three laps remaining, while Hamilton’s Fletcher Adams produced a strong performance in under-23 men with both riders earning top-50 placings.
There is a short break in the UCI World Series before the concluding rounds for both cross-country and downhill in North America next month.
NZ Cross-country Results:
Elite Female: Samara Maxwell 5.
Women Under-23: Annabel Bligh 47.
Men Under-23: Fletcher Adams 48.
Men Elite: Sam Gaze 29; Anton Cooper 53.
Sammie Maxwell in action in Val di Sole, Italy today (SWpix)