Tokoroa-born Sam Gaze has won his second under-23 men's cross-country title at the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Cairns.
Gaze, who won the under-23 championship in the Czech Republic last year, emerged from a tight tussle late in the race to win in one hour, 17 minutes and 46 seconds which was 11 seconds clear of South Africa's Alan Hatherly with Germany's Maximilian Brandl 51 seconds back in third.
It was an outstanding day for New Zealand riders, with North Canterbury's Ben Oliver enjoying an excellent race to finish ninth, 2min, 12sec down on the winner. His brother Craig was 37th - both are part of the Subway Mountain Bike National Performance Hub.
Gaze was with a strong group including Ben Oliver from the start before making his move on the penultimate lap when he attacked up the main climb on the dusty course, in hot conditions in the tropical rain forest.
The Specialized Factory rider opened up a 13-second gap on lap five and was able to hold off the South African on the sixth and final lap and even enjoy a finish-line celebration.