The Rotorua Bike Festival XC Preview

Commonwealth Games champion Anton Cooper wants to regain his national jersey in what is promising to be an exciting showdown at the New Zealand Mountain Bike Championships in Rotorua tomorrow. The cross country championships will again be staged in the stunning surrounds of Whakarewarewa Forest in Rotorua, the spiritual home of the sport in New Zealand, and forms part of the city’s annual bike festival. While the Cannondale Factory professional has his sights aimed at his European and North American season later in the year, the 20 year old has put more emphasis on the national championships, after losing the title to fellow rising star Sam Gaze last year.


Gaze (Cambridge) went on to produce some superb results on the world circuit and grabbed the silver medal at Glasgow behind Cooper, with the Kiwi pair beating off the challenge from world number three ranked Dan McConnell. It could be far from a two-horse race in tomorrow’s crosscountry with a strong field including Rotorua’s Dirk Peters and Carl Jones and the teenage North Canterbury brothers Ben and Craig Oliver. Cooper goes into the race with a solid off-season build-up but also refreshed after going back to his roots during the summer. “I’ve been riding in a lot of events that I used to race years ago. It’s been so much fun, so relaxed and I’ve had the chance to catch up with a lot of people I’ve not seen for ages,” Cooper said. “It’s been good to also give a bit back as well and I have loved it.”


It’s now all business for Cooper at the weekend. “I would like to be able to wear the jersey when I compete back on the world circuit for sure, but that is not going to be easy. “I have probably prepared a little more specifically for this race and I know that Sam and I will continue to push eachother not just in this race but the rest of the year which is good for us both.”

The women’s honours looks set for another tight showdown between Commonwealth Games teammates Karen Hanlen and Kate Fluker. Fluker took the national title last year from Hanlen who is back to full health and fitness, pipping her rival in the Taupo leg of the national cup series and then winning the Auckland round. Another epic showdown is expected on the testing terrain in Whakarewarewa Forest tomorrow. The pair can’t count out the challenges from Wellington’s Samara Sheppard, Rotorua’s Katherine O’Neill and super-talent Amber Johnston along with last year’s impressive under-19 winner Harriet Beaven (Auckland). The under-15, under-17, senior and masters races begin at 10.30am Saturday February 14 (NZST) with the under-19, under-23 and elite races at 2pm.

Sunday will see some of the world’s best gravity riders compete in the national downhill championships.

Words: Ian Hepenstall.

More information www.rotoruabikefestival.com and www.mtbnationals.co.nz



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