Neil de Ste. Croix made it two for two when he collected his second successive victory as the winter mountain bike series continued at Fort Scaur on Sunday.

De Ste. Croix was facing a tough challenge from defending champion Garth Thomson and the two riders quickly opened up a gap at the front of the field.

But when Thomson suffered chain trouble, he was forced to withdraw leaving his rival to repeat his win in the series opener a week earlier.

Riders were confronted with a new course that was laid out within the Fort grounds, adjacent to Hayden Trust – containing enough climbs to burn the lungs and legs, and including a tricky descent along with stairs and a rock drop-off.

And it was the course that caused plenty of chain problems, with Thomson not the only competitor forced to dismount.

With Thomson, making his season debut , and de Ste. Croix taking early command it was left for the rest of the field to jostle for position as they stretched out along the paved section.

Former professional road racer Graeme Miller began chase, closely followed by Grant Goudge and Mark Hatherley. One rider, Phil Trussell, snapped a chain almost immediately and was forced to pull out.

Thomson and de Ste. Croix worked to create a gap but New Zealander Miller stayed on their heels with Hatherley joining him on lap two. Miller, however, also threw a chain and departed with fellow team Madison rider Trussell .

Goudge worked to catch Hatherley and when the latter bobbled on a climb, Goudge seized his opportunity and would not be caught, taking second place after Thomson withdrew.

A hard-charging Hatherley placed third with Peter Dunne finishing fourth.

In men's Group B, Dave Collins, who also races in moto cross, rode his big wheeled machine to victory, making the most of some confusion on the first climb to open up a gap and was never caught.

Veteran Fred Swan rolled back the years to hold off the improved Alex Godfrey – some 30 years in age separating the two riders.

Round one winner, Norbert Meyer was another to suffer a chain snap and limped in fifth behind Charles Dunstan.

One of the pioneers of Bermuda mountain biking, Brian Steinhoff, although lacking fitness, put in a good effort in his first race for several years.

The women's race saw Kim McMullen streak away from a determined Sarah Bonnet. In the women's B race, Sarah Jordan rode unopposed.

The male novices division was won by Everton Dawes, closely followed by Hugh Smith.

In the male 12 and under group, Bicycle Works rider Daniel Oatley placed first, Daniel Hertzel second and Christian Oatley third.

Sarah Jordan won the female 13-16 and Mark Godfrey the male 13-16.

The next race will begin at 3.30 p.m. at Ferry Reach on December 14.