Gaze and Maxwell gain mountain bike wins in Europe
Sam Gaze has started his return to form from an injury-enforced break with a win in the Sea Otter mountain bike cross-country race in Spain.
Gaze, who suffered concussion after a crash in the Cape Epic event in March in South Africa, edged clear of Frenchman Thomas Griot to win by 200m in 1:36.41 in Girona, which is currently cycling central for many New Zealand cyclists.
Rotorua’s Connor Johnston, part of the Subway national performance hub, was 18th in the junior men’s race.
His fellow Performance Hub riders also enjoyed success at the Czech Mountain Bike Cup race in Zadov. Taupo’s Sammie Maxwell won the junior women’s race, over a minute clear of her closest competition, with Jessica Manchester 15th in the elite women.
Maxwell and Manchester have completed their European venture and return to New Zealand.
Meanwhile there will be a large contingent of Kiwi downhill riders in Leogang, Austria from today to compete in the third round of the UCI World Cup.
There are 11 Kiwis competing in the elite male category, headed by Brook MacDonald and Ed Masters who rode strongly last weekend at Fort William.
The New Zealand riders comprise: Elite males: Brook MacDonald, Ed Masters, George Brannigan, Sam Blenkinsop, Matt Walker, Bryn Dickerson, Wyn Masters, Keegan Wright, Charles Makea, Boaz Hebblethwaite, Nils Heimiger. Junior: Blake Ross, Jayd Adlam-Kennedy, Mischa Wolstencroft. Elite females: Kate Weatherly.
There are four New Zealand riders in Paris for rounds five and six of the UCI BMX Supercross World Cup, with a round each on Saturday and Sunday at Saint-Quentin-En-Yvelines.
Cole McOnie (Te Awamutu) and Maynard Peel (Sunset Coast) compete in the elite males while Jessie Smith (Hamilton) and Rebecca Petch (Te Awamutu) ride in the elite females.
There is a full round on each day with Smith and Petch among 59 women with Peel and McOnie taking on a massive 200-strong field in the elite males.
CAPTION: Sammie Maxwell in action in Europe. (Credit: Cullen Browne)