NZ MTB Cup Round Six Preview, Rotorua Feb 20-21

Rotorua hosts the sixth and final round of the RaboPlus 2010 NZ MTB Cup this weekend in the Whakarewarewa Forest. The six event national series in MTB Cross Country and Downhill disciplines has been all over the country throughout January and February - with the series culminating in the RaboPlus MTB National Championships at the end of the month in Wellington.

Competitors in the NZ MTB Cup are no strangers to the popular Whaka Forest, and the Rotorua MTB Club hosts of this event always provide quality race courses that are both challenging and enjoyable at the same time - a mix hard to replicate in many locations.

As the final race of the NZ Cup, it is also the last opportunity for competitors to gain points towards the overall NZ MTB Cup titles, with several age group and Elite categories not yet decided. The results in Rotorua this weekend will determine who takes the top step of the podium in many cases, so racing is sure to be intense with plenty at stake. This is also the final Cup round before the RaboPlus National Mountainbike Champs next weekend in Wellington - a final opportunity to have a high quality race before National titles are put on the line.

Downhill practice at Nursery Rd, Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua runs between 9am and 5pm on Saturday, with seeding and racing taking place on Sunday from 10.30am.

Cross Country racing at Long Mile Rd, Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua has age group categories on a 10.30am race start on Saturday morning, with Elite, U19 and U23 categories racing on a 2pm race start.

www.mtbnz.org