Samara Maxwell Claims UCI MTB World Series Victory in Andorra

In a thrilling display of resilience and skill, New Zealand mountain biker Samara Maxwell secured a stunning victory at the latest round of the UCI MTB World Cup cross-country event in Pal Arinsal, Andorra.

Maxwell, representing the Decathlon Ford team, showcased an extraordinary performance in her first year as an elite rider. Despite facing several challenges, including two falls on the treacherous rock descent and a puncture that forced a rear wheel change, she demonstrated remarkable determination to fight back and clinch the win.

Throughout the race, Maxwell maintained a strong pace, eventually closing the gap for the third time and pushing herself to the limit. With her body screaming from the effort, she found the final reserves needed to break away on the last lap and claim victory by nine seconds over Swiss rider Alessandra Keller. Sweden’s Jenny Rissveds finished third, following a strong attack from Italian Martina Berta for much of the race.

"If you want to win a World Cup, you have to attack. No one is going to let you have it," Maxwell said after the race. "I felt so strong, but I kept making silly mistakes on the downhills. I realized I needed a bit of room for myself to take my own lines." She added, "I told myself, 'this is altitude, so if you attack up that first climb, you are going to be out of it by the time you get around the back.' Peddling around the back on the last lap, my whole body was screaming. I can’t believe it."

The race conditions were challenging, with a dry and dusty surface earlier in the week, followed by rain from storms that led to the cancellation of the junior downhill finals. This created a tackier surface that tested the riders' skills and endurance.

Maxwell delivered the two fastest laps of the race—on the first and last stages—and now leads the individual standings with 445 points, with four rounds remaining in her rookie elite season. There is a three-week break before the next round of the UCI MTB World Series, which will take place in Haute-Savoie, France, featuring downhill, cross-country, and enduro events.

Results: Samara Maxwell (NZL, Decathlon Ford) 1:25.31; Alessandra Keller (AUT) at 9s; Jenny Rissveds (SWE) at 15s; Martina Berta (ITA) at 26s.

Maxwell's win not only marks a significant milestone in her career but also highlights the growing strength of New Zealand's mountain biking scene on the global stage.