Elite Downhill field gather in Nelson for the final of the Subaru South Island Downhill Cup

The big names in NZ downhill mountain biking will be battling it out on Sunday January 13th for not only prize money but for world cup rankings points which are up for grabs at the UCI Class 1 event.

South Island Cup Round 1 and 2 winner Nathan Rankin (Levin) will face stiff competition from the likes of professional rider Justin Leov (Blenheim), Mike Skinner (Auckland) and 2007 National Downhill Champion and Nelson local, Kieran Bennett.

Former Junior World Champion and Series leader in the Elite Womens grade of the South Island Downhill Cup,

Scarlett Hagen is aiming for nothing less than 1st place at Sunday’s event.

“It is always great racing in Nelson and I am aiming to do well and to pick up UCI points to give me a good start to the season ahead.”

200+ riders across age group and Elite Categories will test themselves on the Nelson course which race director Chris Mildon describes as a mixture of technically challenging and high speed rough terrain that will test all levels.

Timed seeding run begin from 10.30am on Sunday with a race start from 1.00pm.

The Subaru South Island Downhill Cup is one of Four Island Cups currently being contested. The next event on January 20th, in Waipara, is the final round of the NZCT South Island Cross Country Cup.

The North Island Cross Country and North Island Downhill Cup both run conclude in mid February.