New Zealand’s Samara Maxwell has made history, becoming the first Kiwi woman to win a UCI MTB cross-country World Cup race. The 23-year-old clinched victory at the opening World Cup event of the year in Araxa, Brazil, riding for Decathlon Ford.
Maxwell, who has been a consistent contender, was near the front of the pack throughout the race. In a thrilling sprint finish, she held off Switzerland’s Nicole Koller and her American teammate Savilia Blunk to secure the win.
This marks a historic achievement for Maxwell, as the best previous result for a Kiwi woman in cross-country was a second-place finish by Olympian Rosara Joseph 17 years ago in Australia.
The victory follows Maxwell’s second-place finish in the short-track cross-country event in Araxa earlier in the week, where she was narrowly beaten by Britain’s Evie Richards.
A former women’s under-23 cross-country world champion in 2023, Maxwell also finished eighth in the mountain bike event at the Paris Olympics. This season marks her first full campaign in the World Cup series as an elite rider.
Maxwell showed great resilience in Araxa. She led after the first lap, but at the mid-point, fell 12 seconds behind the leader. Determined, she made a strong comeback, overtaking competitors and creating an 18-second lead by the penultimate lap. Despite a late challenge from her pursuers, she crossed the finish line four seconds ahead.
Maxwell shared her strategy: “The team manager had warned me about the heat and the challenging climbs, so the goal was to stay with the group and then make a move with two laps to go. When I heard ‘now go on the climb,’ I knew it was time to push.”
She also credited her technical skills and downhill training for helping her gain the crucial gap. “It’s amazing to see the hard work pay off. I’ve had a tough couple of years with health issues, and the team’s unwavering support has meant the world to me,” she added.
Maxwell now heads into the second round of the World Cup, which will take place in Araxa once again but on a reversed course.
Meanwhile, Oceania champion Anton Cooper finished 36th in the men’s race. Cooper, returning from a year-long break due to illness, started in the sixth row but worked his way up, finishing strong with one of the fastest laps in the field.