Caption: Sammie Maxwell (Decathlon Ford) races at Nove Mesto na Morave. (Photo Credit: Trek Race Shop / Fred Machabert-Decathlon Ford)
LEOGANG, AUSTRIA — A strong contingent of New Zealand mountain bikers will compete this weekend at the iconic Leogang Bikepark in Austria, where the UCI Mountain Bike World Series hosts its first triple-header event of the season. The competition will feature downhill, cross-country, and enduro racing.
A total of 39 riders from New Zealand are entered in the event, which marks the final stop in a five-week stretch of consecutive World Series racing. This is also the first of two triple-header weekends scheduled for 2024.
Kiwis Shine in World Rankings
New Zealand currently boasts 11 riders ranked inside the top 10 overall across the three disciplines in the UCI Whoop World Series, with three of them sitting in podium positions.
Leading the charge is cross-country specialist Sammie Maxwell of Taupō. Riding for Decathlon Ford, Maxwell leads the women’s cross-country standings heading into round four and holds fourth place in the short track series.
In enduro, Cooper Millward from Alexandra—riding for Yeti Development NZ—is second in the junior men’s standings after back-to-back runner-up finishes. Meanwhile, elite riders Charlie Murray and Winni Godfrey, both representing Specialized Gravity, are ranked seventh in their respective categories.
New Zealand’s junior downhill riders have also made a strong impression. Tyler Waite from Clive is currently second overall in the junior men’s standings. Fellow countrymen Jonty Williamson (Christchurch, Yeti Fox) and Oli Clark (Kaikoura, MS Racing) are fifth and ninth, respectively.
Among the junior women, Eliana Hulsebosch (Tauranga, Santa Cruz Syndicate) sits fourth, while Bellah Birchall (Rotorua, Team High Country) holds sixth. In the elite women’s category, rookie rider Sacha Earnest—twice a junior world medalist—achieved a top-10 finish, an encouraging result in her first year at the elite level.
Leogang: A Demanding Test Across Disciplines
The Leogang Bikepark is known for its challenging terrain and technical features, making it a true test for riders in all categories.
Downhill:
The Speedster downhill course stretches 2.25 kilometers with a 500-meter vertical drop. It includes long, tight switchbacks, signature wallrides, dense forest sections, and high-speed jumps. It is considered one of the fastest and most technical tracks on the circuit.
Enduro:
Riders will face a six-stage course with 15.9 kilometers of timed racing and 55 kilometers of total riding, including liaisons.
The terrain is a mix of smooth bike park runs, technical alpine tracks, and rough natural sections. The course includes a total elevation gain of 5,200 meters, with a high point at 2,100 meters above sea level.
Cross-country:
The cross-country course combines natural features with man-made obstacles. Riders will tackle root-laced forests, rocky mountain paths, steep climbs, and rapid descents. It is a physically and technically demanding track, built to test stamina and skill.
Weekend Schedule (NZ Time)
The action begins Friday night with elite downhill qualifying at 10:30 p.m., followed by junior qualifying at 12:15 a.m. on Saturday. The second elite qualifying round is set for 1:30 a.m.
On Saturday, short track cross-country races start at 1:45 a.m., leading up to the elite men’s race at 4:10 a.m.
Downhill finals take place Saturday night. Junior women race from 10:30 p.m., followed by junior men at 11:00 p.m., elite women at midnight, and elite men at 1:00 a.m. on Sunday.
Enduro racing begins at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday and continues until 5:00 a.m. Monday.
The cross-country discipline wraps up the weekend. Under-23 women race at 7:00 p.m. Sunday, followed by under-23 men at 9:00 p.m., elite women at 11:00 p.m., and elite men at 1:00 a.m. Monday.