Maxwell surprises and wins the Araxá XCO World Cup 2025

Perfect Sunday for Decathlon Ford Racing Team and their Rockrider bikes. Young Samara Maxwell achieved her first victory in the MTB World Series in Araxá, both in her career and for the team, which also placed Savilia Blunk in third place on the podium. Swiss rider Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory Racing) finished second.

Araxá was the party of Decathlon Ford and Samara Maxwell

Marked from the start as one of the top favorites, not only for her history in the World Cup but especially for her magnificent start to the season with victories in Banyoles, San Zeno di Montagna, and Rivera, Jolanda Neff took the lead from the beginning causing the first selection on the climb of the first lap. The Swiss rider from the Cannondale team made a move that was accepted by Swedish rider Jenny Rissveds (Canyon), British rider Evie Richards (Lidl) - who won the Short Track on Saturday - and French rider Loana Lecomte (BMC).

An attack that didn't last long, as the quartet eased off before completing the first lap, allowing another dozen riders to join the leading group. From the violence of a very aggressive first lap, in which Canadian rider Jennifer Jackson (Orbea Fox Factory) suffered a spectacular fall that fortunately did not take her out of the race, they moved on to a much more contemplative second lap in which Rissveds set the pace in the tough section and Neff, due to a fall, lost more than twenty positions and almost 1 minute to the leaders.

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Rissveds, the Decathlon Ford duo formed by New Zealander Samara Maxwell and American Savilia Blunk, South African Candice Lill, and a recovered Jennifer Jackson started the third lap with a slight advantage over Evie Richards and a cushion of 15" over the first units of the main group. However, the Swedish rider almost never left the first position and took advantage of every climb to stretch the group and set the pace that suited her best, distancing Richards on one side and making Blunk suffer on the other as she gradually lost ground to the quartet.

A brief pause allowed the American to return to the front of the race, but also allowed the large chasing group led by American rider Kelsey Urban (KMC Ridley) to join the front positions before facing the most demanding climb of the fourth lap. Swiss rider Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory Racing), who had positioned herself second behind Rissveds who was reluctant to give up the lead, took advantage of the situation. After an explosive start, important names like Evie Richards or Loana Lecomte were riding more discreetly within that large second group.

Rissveds dominated the race until past its midpoint

Transmitting a noticeable feeling of superiority and control over the rest of the riders until that moment, Rissveds found herself alone for the first time near the end of the fourth of the eight laps of the Brazilian circuit. The Nordic rider was 15" ahead of a group composed of Maxwell, Koller, Blunk, Jackson, and Lill right in the middle of this XCO, starting a brave move that was answered by Savilia Blunk. The Californian, managing her strength very well from the start, reduced that gap without overexerting herself to overtake Rissveds and take the lead on a slight descent.

The doubts of the duo allowed Jackson, Maxwell, Keller, Koller, and Lill to close in again from behind, although this quintet did not manage to catch the two riders who were emerging as the strongest in this debut of the World Series in the Olympic discipline. It would ultimately be a surge from Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) that would bring the victory chances back to a group that broke apart every time Rissveds attacked on any uphill section, although not enough to rule out any of the top seven.

Jennifer Jackson, perhaps feeling the effects of the tough start or perhaps the wear and humidity of the Minas Gerais track, was the first to lose ground near the hour mark of the race, although the Canadian champion managed to recover to start the final two laps in the group of seven riders who would fight for victory and the podium in the first major event of the season.

Samara Maxwell made her move in the seventh lap

Samara Maxwell, one of the great revelations of the weekend in Brazil, accelerated in the toughest section to break away from the group with a strong attack that no one could initially follow. There was a lap and a half left, and only Candice Lill or Jenny Rissveds seemed capable of reducing the lead of the New Zealander, who reached a 10" advantage. With Jackson out of contention again and the two Swiss riders and Blunk struggling to keep up with the African champion, everything seemed to be leaning towards the decisive phase in favor of the cyclist from the Decathlon Ford Racing Team, who, at the bell, had almost a 20" lead over Lill, Koller, Keller, and her teammate Blunk. Rissveds, fading, lost ground in fifth place.

In pursuit of her first elite victory in the World Cup, exuding as much strength as confidence, Maxwell delivered a brilliant final lap that allowed her to achieve the greatest success of her career and also give Decathlon Ford their first victory in the World Series. Nicola Koller, also very strong in the final lap, finished second, and Savilia Blunk completed the podium and the fantastic Sunday for her team and for Rockrider. At 23 years old, Samara Maxwell also becomes the first leader of the competition before the second round next weekend, also in Araxá on a very similar circuit.

Araxá World Cup Classification - Elite Women's XCO

1st Samara Maxwell (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) 1h24'03"
2nd Nicole Koller (Ghost Factory Racing) at 4"
3rd Savilia Blunk (Decathlon Ford Racing Team) at 4"
4th Alessandra Keller (Thömus Maxon) at 12"
5th Candice Lill at 28"
6th Jennifer Jackson (Orbea Fox Factory Team) at 46"
7th Sina Frei (Specialized Factory Racing) at 52"
8th Jenny Rissveds (Canyon) at 52"
9th Loana Lecomte (BMC Factory Racing) at 52"
10th Kelsey Urban (KMC Ridley) at 58"

Complete rankings on MTBData