Oceania champion Samara Maxwell enjoyed an encouraging elite debut with a podium finish in the short track cross-country at the opening round of the UCI 2024 MTB World Series in Brazil.

Maxwell was edged by last year’s short-track world champion, Evie Richards (GBR) who managed to hold off the New Zealand champion.

The Decathlon Ford professional worked her way through the field in the frantic short track sprint at Araxa, in the state of Minas Gerais. Maxwell showed her climbing prowess to power to the front, opening a telling lead on the penultimate lap.

Richards reeled her in as the two riders put some daylight back to the rest of the chasers. The British rider edged clear in the sprint to the finish, but with celebrations for Maxwell who enjoyed her first elite podium in an impressive ride.

“Fun fact, the faster you ride your bike, the more teddies you get,” joked Maxwell after her podium presentation spoils.

“I'll wait for the reality to hit and thoughts to settle before boring you all with a long and emotional post.”

Maxwell will reset for tomorrow’s main task with the opening full-course world cup tomorrow, joining fellow kiwi elite Anton Cooper, who is making his World Cup return after missing most of last year with illness.

Other New Zealanders competing include under-23 riders Maria Laurie and Annabel Bligh.