In-form young kiwi downhill riders made eye-catching starts to the penultimate round of the UCI MTB World Series at Lake Placid, New York state.

Sammie Maxwell had to work hard for an important podium placing to maintain her overall lead after round seven of the UCI MTB cross-country world series in France.

Kiwi rider Sammie Maxwell has taken over the top of the Mountain Bike World Series rankings, after a second placing in the cross-country second round event in Araxa,