Wellington’s Sammie Maxwell finished an impressive eighth in the women’s cross-country mountain biking event today. The 23-year-old steadily improved her position throughout the race, moving from 18th to 8th over the course of four laps.
Maxwell’s strong performance placed her among the sport’s elite after a challenging 90-minute ride. “In my last World Cup race, I came 20th, so anything in the top 20 was a goal. This is my best placing ever in an elite race. I’m stoked,” she said.
Last year, Maxwell won the world under-23 title, and she felt good physically during the race. The event was won by Pauline Ferrand Prevot of France, who finished with a time of 1 hour, 26 minutes, and 2 seconds, a significant lead over her competitors.
Maxwell’s outstanding effort highlights her as a rising star in cross-country mountain biking.
