Sam Gaze wins UCI Under-23 Mountain Bike Championship

Rio-bound New Zealand mountain biker Sam Gaze has won the under-23 cross-country title at the UCI World Championships in the Czech Republic.

The20-year-old from Cambridge, who rides professionally for Specialized Factory Team, cleared out on the final two laps to win emphatically at Nove Mesto na Morave.

He follows in the footsteps of compatriot Anton Cooper who won the title last year but was unable to defend after succumbing to illness that has sidelined him for much of the season.

Gaze came into the championships on the back of two wins and a third placing in his three World Cup races this season.

He is New Zealand’s sole mountain bike representative at next month’s Rio Olympics.