Samara Maxwell Wins the MTB World Cup 2026

A Moment of Glory

She tried to make sense of it all. Understandably, her mind was buzzing — emotions running in every direction. Just a few minutes earlier, Samara Maxwell had achieved something huge.

That April day will go down in history: the young athlete from Taup, on New Zealand’s North Island, became the first rider from her country to win a World Cup race, and at the same time, the first victory ever for the Decathlon Ford team.

At the finish line, the reporter joked:
“Yesterday you said it was crazy to even be racing with riders like Jenny (Rissveds) and Evie (Richards), and today you’ve beaten them!”
 
Samara grinned and replied:
“Calm down, it was just one race!”

Six months and nine World Cup rounds later, that little comment feels even more fitting.

A Model of Consistency

With two victories and four second-place finishes, Maxwell showed remarkable consistency throughout the season.
Her “worst” result?
 Sixth place— not too bad, right?

At only 23, she demonstrated the composure of a seasoned rider, managing a long season that started in January and wrapped up in mid-October at Mont-Sainte-Anne.
And to think — before this year, she had never completed a full World Cup season!
She also claimed silver at the World Championships and has been sitting atop the UCI World Ranking since June 13.

A Rapid Rise

Just two years ago, Samara Maxwell arrived in Europe full of ambition but without a team or major sponsors.
Working on her own and far from home, she still managed to win the U23 World Championship title, a sign of what was to come.

In September 2023 she officially joined the **Decathlon Ford Racing Team, signing a contract that runs through 2026.
“This season has been absolutely crazy. I never expected to find myself here. Last year, my best result was 8th at the Paris Olympics.
 As the season went on, I started to enjoy wearing the leader’s jersey — and I didn’t want to let it go.
“ There were some really tough moments, but I stayed focused. I learned so much this year.”

A Strong Partnership with Julbo

Julbo is proud to support the Decathlon Ford team with eyewear since 2023.
For Samara, the choice of lenses is far from trivial:
 “Glasses are crucial in our sport. Poor vision can put an entire race at risk. Julbo really listens to us — the brand has supported me for several years now and always provides products that perfectly match the needs of cross-country racing.”

Homeward Bound

At the end of October, Samara will return to New Zealand and the tranquility of Lake Taupo.

It will finally be time to pause, look back, and truly grasp the magnitude of this incredible season.