Australian heavyweights take on the Kiwis in Oceania mountain bike battle

Fresh from the GWM Mountain Bike National Championships, a number of Australia’s leading cross-country riders will head to Brisbane to contest the Oceania Mountain Bike Championships.

Eleven-time Australian champion Rebecca Henderson (Primaflor Mondraker Genuins) will headline the elite women’s field which includes 2024 National Champion silver medalist Zoe Cuthbert (Team 31 Ibis Cycles Continental) and U23 World Champion, New Zealand’s Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team).

Henderson will defend the title she won last year at the Karingal Scout Campgrounds but can expect some serious competition from the young Kiwi and Cuthbert who chased her all the way in last weekend’s XCO race at Awaba Mountain Bike Park in Lake Macquarie.

Recently crowned National Champion Cameron Ivory will line up with bronze medalist Daniel McConnell, Sam Fox and Cameron Wright to take on the international challengers from across the ditch in the elite men’s race.

Anton Cooper (Trek Factory Racing) is the reigning Oceania Elite Men's Champion and will once again prove formidable in the chase for the jersey and valuable UCI points.

Jack Ward (Team Bridgelane), who made a sensational debut in the elite category last weekend with a silver medal performance, will drop back to the U23 category along with Joel Dodds, who won the National U23 title.

Under 23 National Champion Izzy Flint will contest a small field in the women.
Sunday will also see the culmination of the XC National Series with Round 5 contested across all categories.
To see the current series standings head here.

Photos: Matt Rousu Photography