2010 RaboPlus NZ MTB Cup, MTB National Championships and UCI Oceania MTB Championships

Mountainbike NZ and BikeNZ are pleased to announce confirmed venues and dates for 2010's national and international level competitive summer mountainbike events.

RaboPlus NZ MTB Cup, Downhill
#1 Christchurch Jan 8/9
#2 Dunedin Jan 16/17
#3 Nelson Jan 23/24
#4 Rotorua Feb 5/6
#5 Whakatane Feb 12/13
#6 Rotorua Feb 20/21

RaboPlus NZ MTB Cup, Cross Country
#1 Christchurch Jan 10
#2 Dunedin Jan 16
#3 Nelson Jan 23
#4 Tokoroa Feb 7
#5 Hamilton Feb 14
#6 Rotorua Feb 20

RaboPlus National Mountainbike Championships
Wellington, Feb 26 to March 1st

National Mountainbike Marathon Championships
Wellington, March 6th

UCI Oceania Mountainbike Championships
Dunedin, March 18 to 21st

The 2010 RaboPlus NZ MTB Cup presented by Nature Valley kicks off Mountainbike NZs summer competitive events package in the second weekend of January, and competitors will visit a mix of established and new locations in their quest for national series honours. Several new venues on the NZ MTB Cup circuit for both downhill and cross country disciplines come on line next summer - the Christchurch Living Springs development for both cross country and downhill events, the new Whakatane downhill race course, and a national event first time for the Waikato's Hamilton.

Mountainbiking continues to grow at an fast rate in NZ, and BikeNZ and Mountainbike NZ (MTBNZ) are excited to be bringing an action packed Mountainbike Festival to Wellington - catering for the best Cross Country and Downhill racers in the country to families and those new to mountainbiking through a range of competitive and fun events.

As part of the 25 year celebration Mountainbike Festival, the National Mountainbike Championships are scheduled for the end of February in Wellington where six separate National titles are competed for. The ten day festival starts on Friday February the 26th with National Championship Four Cross racing and culminates with the popular and 25th anniversary edition of the Karapoti on Saturday March the 6th. The National Mountainbike Marathon Championships will also be held in conjunction with the 2010 Karapoti.

The UCI Oceania Championships return to New Zealand in 2010 - this event being a true international level mountainbike event with all Oceania Cycling Federations sending strong teams to compete. Dunedin hosts the Oceania's for the first time in 2010.

MTBNZ's Chris Mildon is well aware of the level of interest in these competitive events where NZ's best mountainbike Elite and age group athletes can measure themselves against their peers, and also take on Oceania's best if they choose. Athletes such as 2009 Downhill Junior World Champion Brook MacDonald will springboard off the high quality Oceanias competition into the northern hemisphere World Cup racing season.

"The late withdrawal of Queenstown's Coronet Peak venue created a major challenge for MTBNZ in scheduling a series that both fits the needs of participants and creates a showcase for the sport. While this final confirmation is quite late, we are confident that the 2010 events package will deliver on both counts, and MTBNZ eagerly looks forward to seeing Christchurch get things rolling in just over two months time. We are also pleased to have the NZCT returning as a key funder, and RaboPlus and Nature Valley returning as principal and associate sponsors of the events package."

Detailed information on the events will be available shortly at http://www.mtbnz.org

 

 

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