Gaze leads Kiwi Mountain Bike

A six-strong New Zealand team are ready for action in the UCI Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Championships in the Czech Republic starting today.

They are led by Rio Olympian Sam Gaze who will contest the under-23 honours along with Wellington’s Jack Compton and North Canterbury brothers Ben and Craig Oliver.

The Kiwis are in action from this morning (3am NZ time) with Wanaka’s Paul Wright and Tauranga’s Jack Wilson competing in the junior men’s race.

The course at Nove Mesto Morave is rated as arguably the toughest on the circuit. The town is nestled in the Vysocina highlands 130kms south of Prague. The 4.1km lap is set mostly in the woods and noted for short, technical uphill sprints, power-burning slogs and some testing rock sections.

There’s also forecasted rain for the next three days, and if last year’s World Cup is any indication, a sodden track can turn a tough course into a daunting test.

Gaze has been in stunning form this season for his Specialized Factory Team, winning two under- 23 World Cups and finishing third in the other. His preparations have been compromised with illness but his coach and former Olympic medallist, Christoph Sauser says he has recovered this week.

While Gaze has a weather-eye on next month’s Olympics, the rainbow jersey of a world champion has been a key focus for the 20-year-old from Cambridge.

Current under-23 world champion and compatriot Anton Cooper won’t get the chance to defend his title. He is still recovering from continued illness and is planning a return to the UCI World Cup in Canada in August.

Also missing is national elite women’s champion Kate Fluker who has cut her season short after breaking her collarbone in the last World Cup.

On the back of a win in a UCI event in Japan, Wright has earned a second row start for today's junior race while Wilson, the runner-up at the national championships, will need to come through the big field and take advantage of the wide forest road on the start loop.

The under-23 men’s race is set for a 9pm start on Saturday (NZ time).

The world championships for downhill will be staged in Italy in September.