Cuthbert and Fox lead Aussie charge at Oceania Mountain Bike Championships

Australian riders chased hard in the race for podiums at the 2024 Oceania Continental Mountain Bike Championships in Brisbane.

However the New Zealand riders would claim top of the podium in the elite men and women, U23 men and junior categories.

Anton Cooper (NZL) defended his crown after seven laps of the Karingal Scout Camp course with Tasmania’s Sam Fox (AUS) taking the silver with Caleb Bottcher (NZL) in the bronze medal position.

It would be his eighth straight Oceania championship win.

Current Australian XCO champion Cameron Ivory was more than six seconds behind the winner in fifth.

In the elite women Rebecca Henderson (AUS) was unable to defend the title as she continued to battle with an ankle injury sustained ahead of the National Championships over a week ago.

While Henderson would do enough to claim the bronze, it would be Sammie Maxwell (NZL) who took the top step and the Oceania jersey.

The New Zealand native took control from the start of the six-lap race with Canberra’s Zoe Cuthbert (AUS) doing her best to stay on the wheel of the former Under 23 World Champion.

Maxwell crossed with a five-minute buffer to Cuthbert in second place.

Australians Joel Dodds and Jack Ward would take out second and third respectively in the Under 23 men with Ethan Rose (NZL) claiming gold.

Isabella Flit (AUS) would be the only local rider to take out a Oceania championships with an impressive performance in the Under 23 women.

While in the junior categories New Zealand's Fletcher Adams and Millie Donald would be first to cross the line.

Competitors from a number of pacific nations including Tahiti, Guam and Samoa also competed.

Full results can be found here.

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Featured photos: Element Photography and Video