New Zealand's Samara Maxwell (L) congratulates winner Jenny Rissveds of Sweden after the women's cross-country at the mountain bike world championships in Switzerland. Photo: AFP
New Zealand have finished the mountain bike world championships with a medal following Sammie Maxwell's silver in the women's cross country.
Sam Gaze came closest to adding a men's cross country medal at the championships in Crans-Montana, Switzerland when he secured a courageous 12th placing on Monday morning.
Maxwell continued a brilliant year in which she is leading the World Cup series standings, finishing just 18 seconds behind Swedish winner Jenny Rissveds on a demanding course on Sunday morning.
An under-23 world champion in 2023, Maxwell finished 11th in her elite debut last year before a giant improvement in which underlined her improved riding quality.
She settled back early but joined the leaders mid-race, taking advantage of her climbing prowess.
Maxwell and two early leaders - Rissveds and Switzerland's Alessandra Keller - pushed clear in the front, dropping the 2021 world champion Evie Richards of Great Britain.
While Rissveds was able to hold off the charge by Maxwell in the final lap, the 23-year-old Kiwi also powered away from Keller.
There is little downtime for Maxwell, who will contest the eighth round of the world series in nearby Lenzerheide this weekend, hoping to maintain her lead.
Rissveds is her nearest rival on the leaderboard with three rounds remaining.
Gutsy Gaze
Sam Gaze competing at the mountain biking world championships in Glentress Forest, Peebles, Scotland. Photo: SWpix.com
Gaze unfurled a gutsy ride, passing more than 50 riders, having been ranked to start in 67th spot near the rear of the field for the exhausting nine-lap race.
After an indifferent season, Gaze found some of his best form to climb through the field and finish just over three minutes behind South African winner Alan Hatherly.
"It was a very hard day out and I was really restricted in the beginning from my start position which was a reflection of the season I've had," Gaze said.
"I was caught up a bit but then I found a good tempo and I could ride a good solid speed with lap times there or thereabouts with the leaders.
"Twelfth in the world - I am content with how it went considering my start from the back of the pack. I am now looking forward to the remainder of the year and to improve on my season from here out."
Teammate Anton Cooper, who rides for the Lapierre Racing professional team, also found progress difficult through the packed field, and did not finish.
Earlier Christchurch rider Amelie Mackay was 36th in the women's under-23 race.
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