Anton Cooper warmed up for this weekend’s UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Andorra with second placing to current world number one ranked Gerhard Kerschbaumer in the Swiss Alps.

Cooper, riding for his Trek Factory team, was just 21 seconds behind the Italian in the latest round of the Swiss Cup in Andermatt, which is nestled at altitude at 1600m.

The pair were well clear of the rest, with Kerschbaumer too strong on the final lap of eight to claim the win.

Cooper said he was stoked with today’s result and is looking forward to the World Cup in Andorra.

Meanwhile back from her impressive European debut, mountain biker Sammie Maxwell continued her good form with second placing in the UCI Junior Series in Mackay, Queensland.

Maxwell, part of the Subway National Performance Hub programme, was 21 seconds behind winner Zoe Cuthbert in the junior female race.

The Vantage elite track cycling team wrapped up their training and racing stint at the famed Trexlertown in Pennsylvania at the weekend with a bevy of top results.

In the UCI category one competition, Regan Gough claimed overall honours in the men’s omnium from Corbin Strong and Tom Sexton, with Nick Kergozou fourth. Gough took out the elimination and points races; Strong the scratch race and Sexton the tempo.

Nicole Shields won the women’s omnium competition after claiming the elimination and points race honours.

The Kiwis cleaned up in the keirin competition with Ellesse Andrews winning the final with a New Zealand clean sweep ahead of Natasha Hansen and Olivia Podmore while Eddie Dawkins claimed the men’s final with Sam Dakin third and Sam Webster fourth.

Dawkins went on to win the flying 500m time trial with an average speed of 68kph ahead of Canadian Hugo Barrette and Sam Webster who clocked 67kph.

Andrews, in equally impressive form, now holds the flying lap and flying 500m track records.

Meanwhile leading World Tour riders George Bennett and Patrick Bevin have been confirmed as starters for the Tour de France which begins in Brussels this weekend.

Both will be competing for the third time in Le Tour with Bennett in a supporting role for his Jumbo-Visma team’s yellow jersey ambitions while Bevin might surprise in some sprints and have an eye on a strong performance in the individual time trial.

CAPTION: Corbin Strong, Regan Gough and Nick Kergozou compete in the men's omnium C1 race in Pennsylvania, USA. (Photo credit: Matt Jones/Trevor Raab).