RaboPlus NZ MTB Cup Wraps up this weekend in Blenheim

The Raboplus NZ MTB Cup, presented by Nature Valley finishes this weekend (Feb 21/22nd) in Blenheim.

The NZ MTB Cup comprises six Cross Country and Six Downhill events (three in each of the North and South Islands) during January and February, wrapping up with the Raboplus National Mountainbike Championships in Nelson between February 26 and March 1st.

Blenheim hosts the sixth round of the Raboplus NZ Downhill Cup on Sunday on the Strachan Peak downhill course, on SH1 between Blenheim and Picton.

 

Sunday's Downhill race brings together all of the NZ MTB Cup contenders for their last race before the National Mountainbike Championships.

 

NZ's highest ever world ranked mountainbiker Justin Leov (Christchurch) will be competing on a Strachan Peak course that is almost his home track, and one he helped design.

 

The Scottish podium raiders Ben Cathro, Gary Forest and Joe Barnes, and also young Danny Hart (UK) are also competing and will surely be settled on this style of race course, which could remain muddy and slippery right through Saturday's practice day and possibly into Sunday with the current weather conditions.

 

2008 World Champs 4th and 5th place Juniors Aari Barrett and Brook MacDonald (both Hawkes Bay) and any number of the quality Elite Mens field could also challenge for the win this weekend. Harriet Harper (Blenheim) is also racing on her home track in the Elite Womens race, however a fit Gabby Molloy (Rotorua) will find Strachan Peak's race course similar to her own in Rotorua and could provide something of an upset.

 

The U17 and U19 Junior categories are well subscribed this weekend, with 60 entries confirmed between them. Competition in these categories has been fierce this summer with these juniors benefiting from such constant exposure to the high quality Elite fields at the NZ MTB Cup events. Richard Leacock (Wellington) and George Brannigan (Hawkes Bay) have been trading wins right through the series in the U19s, and this final event in Blenheim will provide something of a phsycological boost to whoever takes top honours, leading into the National Champs.

 

Additionally to the premier Elite level competition, age group categories from Masters 50+ through to the emerging U15 age groups in their first national events will be just as hotly contested at all NZ MTB Cup events.