New Zealand mountain bike fans were given a chance to see some of the rising international downhill stars in action when the UCI Oceania Continental Series got underway at Mt Hutt, Canterbury

New Zealand’s Samara Maxwell had to settle for sixth place but still maintains a significant lead after the final European leg of the UCI MTB Cross-country World Series in Switzerland.

The UCI Mountain Bike World Series is back in action following the summer break in Europe with no time for Kiwi riders to ease their way back into the competition scene.

New Zealand mountain bikers will be looking to build on recent unprecedented success when the UCI Mtb World Series moves to the famed venue of Val di Sole in the mountains among the Dolomites in Trentino, northern Italy.

Kaikoura's Oli Clark takes the overall win in the opening downhill round of the Mountain Bike NZ national series.