Two tweeners showed that kiwi cross-country mountain biking has a positive future when they claimed the overall honours at the Torpedo7 Mountain Bike Nationals at Queenstown’s Coronet Peak.
Auckland 21-year-old Matthew Wilson and Taupo 22-year-old Sammie Maxwell claimed the national overall cross-country titles in Queenstown today.
While Coronet Peak is a world-renowned ski complex, it also provided a stunning surrounds and stern test for mountain bikers.
None more so than in the elite and under-23 men’s race where a recovering nine-time champion Anton Cooper, and multi runner-up Ben Oliver both faded as Wilson sailed uphill and on to claim his first national mountain bike title of any type.
Cooper (Trek Factory) and Oliver (MitoQ-NZ Cycle Project) spent two-thirds of the race at the front. But Cooper, recovering from a raft of illnesses and injuries, dropped back before Oliver, also battling a compromised build-up, also faded on the final lap.
Meanwhile Wilson, who has prospered this year when racing points upward, reeled off the two fastest laps of the race in the final two circuits to claim the combined elite and under-23 title.
The Auckland rider, who enjoyed his first European racing season in 2022 with Team Mtb Collective, overtook Craig Oliver on his way to clocking 1:13.49 for the six-lap test of the toughest. Rangiora’s Craig Oliver finished 26s back in second and younger brother Ben a further 13 seconds in arrears in third.
“I still don’t believe it. I thought I was dreaming for the last lap,” said Wilson. “I have yet to win a national championship. I placed second at the U19s and a few podiums in U23 but never won a national title so it is pretty cool to come out swinging to take the elite title at my first attempt.”
It was not his first honours when a race heads skyward, riding for the Rush Velo team in the Tour of Southland, and claimed the mountains jersey in the UCI-sanctioned NZ Cycle Classic for the same team.
“I eased into the race and knew it would be a demanding course, and if you pushed too soon and blow up, you would go backwards pretty quick,” said Wilson. “I tried to keep a steady pace and keep a lid on things. I felt good and was not pushing too hard and pulled back time. I paced it pretty well as the two last laps were my fastest.”
He has had some of his preparations affected by Cyclone Gabrielle around his Pohutukawa Coast training grounds but is buoyed by the result as he prepares for next month’s Oceania Championships before a second season racing in Europe.
“I was surprised for the first few world cups last year that I was able to move up pretty quickly. By the end of the season I got 27th at Lenzerheide in mid-pack. Now I am really looking forward to next season.”
Meanwhile 21-year-old Maxwell form Taupo made it three elite titles in succession with a dominant performance in the women’s race.
Maxwell set the early pace and was then able to dictate proceedings, proving to be in a class of her own to win in 1:15.44, with nearly three minutes back to Nelson’s Josie Wilcox and a further three minutes to Rotorua’s Ruby Ryan.
“Getting the early gap was the key. I ran a bigger chain-ring and I knew if I got a gap on the first lap then I would be able to ride my own pace. I was then able to dictate when I attacked and when I didn’t – so that my legs did not run out of steam towards the end,” said Maxwell.
“The Oceania Championships are next for me next month and train with the Australian team who are helping out the kiwi, and then I will be heading to Europe to compete.”
Attention tomorrow turns to the first ever national title for short-track mountain bike, before a world-class field of downhill riders hurl themselves down the mountain to chase the national jersey.
Results:
Elite/U23: Matthew Wilson (Auckland - U23) 1:13.49, 1; Craig Oliver (Rangiora) 1:14.15, 2; Ben Oliver (MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project, Rangiora) 1:14:28, 3.
Under-23: Wilson 1, Ethan Rose (Christchurch) 1:16.42, 2; Caleb Bottcher (Rotorua) 1:18.29, 3.
Under-19: Ethan Woods (Motueka) 54.42, 1; Eddie Adams (Alexandra) 54.43, 2; Hunter Adams (Hamilton) same time, 3.
Under-17: James Climo (Hamilton) 56.21, 1; Fletcher Adams (Hamilton) 56.22, Louie Cameron (Taupo) 1:02.05, 3.
Under-15: Alex Botha (Auckland) 44.29, 1; Levi Gear (Orewa) 49.17, 2; Wilbur Talbot (Pleasant Valley) 52.49, 3.
Sport: Daniel Self (Christchurch) 57.57, 1; Will Keay (Christchurch) 1:07.48, 2; Lachlan McKnight (Cambridge) 1:09.18, 3.
Females, Elite/U23: Sammie Maxwell (Taupo) 1:15.44, 1; Josie Wilcox (Nelson) 1:18.38, 2; Ruby Ryan (Rotorua) 1:21.20, 3.
Under-19: Maria Laurie (Christchurch) 1:05.54, 1; Milla Phipps (Reporoa) 1:07.24, 2; Olivia Tilby-Adams (Papamoa) 1:17.35, 3.
Under-17: Millie Junge (Christchurch) 51.49, 1; Millie Donald (Paraparaumu) 52.54. 2; Kayley McMillan (Morrinsville) 54.02, 3.
Under-15: Vesper Woodfield (Christchurch) 42.00, 1; Sophie Archer (Clevdon) 45:35, 2; Paige Adams (Alexandra) 52:28, 3.
Sport: Maddy Sinclair (Blenheim) 1:00.14, 1; Kate Millington (Christchurch) 1:02.08, 2; Caitlin Titheridge (Ashburton) 1:07.26, 3.
Masters, Male: Masters1: Jeremy Gardner 57.21, 1; Neill Ungerer 57.42, 2; Kieran Bennett 58.24, 3; Masters 2: Adam Heard 1:00.18, 1; Mitchell Sincock 1:03.35, 2; Justin Copeland 1:05.11, 3; Masters 3: Mel Hansen 1L00.50, 1; Brad McFarlane 1:01.01, 2; Kent Wilson 1:05.55, 3; Masters 4: Grant Tyrrell 1:16.265, 1; David Ralston 1 lap, 2.
Female: Masters 3: Kath Kelly 59.19, 1; Dale Hyhan 1:08.36, 2; Alana McCluckie 1 lap, 3; Masters 4: Sarah Beadel 1:12.33, 1.