Cambridge professional Sam Gaze has won the under-23 cross country title at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Cairns.
The Specialized rider held off the French pair of Romain Seigle and Titouan Carod in a sprint finish after the trio rode together after breaking clear of the field on the second of five laps.
Gaze was ranked number one for the first World Cup for cross-country, with compatriot Ben Oliver (North Canterbury) achieving a top-10 finish.
National champion Kate Fluker, Samara Sheppard and Myra Moller contest the elite women's race shortly with world under-23 champion Anton Cooper to have his debut in the elite men's later in the afternoon.