New Zealand’s overall national champions, both just 21 years, made bright starts to their international cross-country mountain bike quests in the opening round of the UCI MTB World Series.
Auckland’s Matthew Wilson finished fifth while Sammie Maxwell from Taupo was eighth in their respective under-23 championship races in the Czech Republic,
There was a strong kiwi presence in the age races at the famed at Nové Město Na Moravě course in the junior and under-23 cross-country races and the marathon events.
Wilson rode with the small lead group for three of the six laps, before joining with a group of four vying for the final spot on the podium. He dropped to sixth before climbing back to fifth with a strong final lap to finish only 14 seconds off the podium.
Maxwell had a circumspect start from the second row to be 16th after the first loop but worked her way through the field, climbing her way to sixth with a lap to go, and eventually settling for eighth place.
There were 18 New Zealand riders competing in the junior and under-23 races, most from the Team Talley’s-Kiwi MTB Collective.
Marathon racing is a new addition to the MTB World Series, with Christchurch’s Mary Gray finishing second in the shorter 60km event.
Attention turns to the elite cross country races tomorrow
Results: Male Under-23 cross-country: Vedersa Solvhou (DEN) 1:08.27, 1; Darlo Lillo (Sui) at 2sec, 2; Tom Schellekens (NED) at 41s, 3. Also: Matthew Wilson (Auckland – Team Talley’s-Kiwi MTB Collective) at 55s, 5.
Other NZers: Caleb Bottcher (Palmerston North) at 5:31, 53; Ethan Rose (Canterbury - Team Talley’s-Kiwi MTB Collective) at 6:02, 61; Jacob Turner (North Canterbury - Team Talley’s-Kiwi MTB Collective) at 7:35, 80; Matthew Walker (Paraparaumu) 3laps, 135; Bailey Fredericksen (Whakatane) at 4laps, 136; James Officer (Taupo - Team Talley’s-Kiwi MTB Collective) dnf.
Female Under-23: Heby Pedersen (DEN) 1:09.21, 1; Ginia Caluori (SUI) at 30s, 2; Emily Johnston (CAN) at 1:20, 3. Also NZers: Samara Maxwell at 2:13, 8; Mia Cameron (Taupo - Team Talley’s-Kiwi MTB Collective) at 8:40, 40; Amelie Mackay (Christchurch - Team Talley’s-Kiwi MTB Collective) at 10:35, 52; Ruby Ryan (Rotorua) at 13:36, 62; Annabel Bligh (Christchurch - Team Talley’s-Kiwi MTB Collective) at 1lap, 70.
Male Junior: Albert Philipsen (DEN) 1:04.55, 1; Sivert Ekroll (NOR) at 38s, 2; David Friedel (CZE) at 1:16, 3. Also NZers: Ethan Woods (Motueka - Team Talley’s-Kiwi MTB Collective) at 10:25, 103; Ben Wilson (Napier - Team Talley’s-Kiwi MTB Collective) at 1lap, 116.
Female Junior: Andelyn Aagard (USA) 1:03.19, 1; Kamilla Aasebo (NOR) at 47s, 2; Ava Holmgren (CAN) at 48s, 3. Also NZers: Maria Laurie (Christchurch - Team Talley’s-Kiwi MTB Collective) at 7:43, 34; Zoe Christie (Whakatane - Team Talley’s-Kiwi MTB Collective) at 12:25, 59; Katie Ramage (Whanganui - Team Talley’s-Kiwi MTB Collective) at 1lp, 67; Katie Lawrence (Otatara - Team Talley’s-Kiwi MTB Collective) at 1lap, 75.
Cross Country Marathon, elite male: Fabian Rabensteiner (ITA) 4:26.21, 1; Nicolas Samparisi (ITA) at 2s, 2; Simon Stiebjahn (GER) same time, 3. Also NZers: Bailey Fredericksen (Whakatane) at 1:07, 94; Sam Shaw (Rotorua) dnf.
Female, 60km: Stephanie Frank (GER) 2:54.04, 1; Mary Gray (Christchurch - NZL) at 9:24, 2; Petra Vachova (CZE) at 14:33, 3.