Cycling New Zealand is linking with the international Crankworx Rotorua Festival for the staging of key mountain bike championship events this summer.
With increased felling operations limiting access to the competition forest trails in Rotorua this summer, the two organisations have forged a closer relationship.
It will see the Cycling New Zealand MTB National Downhill Championships staged at Skyline Rotorua, Mt Ngongotaha, during the Crankworx Rotorua festival window of 11–15 March, with the precise date to be confirmed.
Additionally, a UCI-sanctioned MTB Downhill race will be staged as part of the Crankworx event in Christchurch on 19–22 February, building on the success of last year’s Crankworx Summer Series.
The Cycling New Zealand MTB Nationals for Cross-country – both Olympic and short track formats – along with Enduro, will be staged in Rotorua on 20–22 March 2026. They will be hosted by Rotorua MTB Club with support from Crankworx Rotorua.
Cycling New Zealand Events Manager, Steff Holcroft said the organisation is delighted to have the MTB National Championships back at the spiritual home of mountain biking in Rotorua for another year.
“With limited access to the forest in Rotorua this summer, Cycling New Zealand greatly appreciates the support from Crankworx Rotorua to stage our downhill nationals at Skyline during their acclaimed international festival.
“We are also grateful for the continued support from the Rotorua MTB Club to host our XCO, XCC and also taking on the Enduro Nationals which will be staged in the Whakarewarewa and Titokorangi Forests which are world-renowned.”
Mountain Bike NZ Event dates confirmed
MTBNZ will also stage four events this summer in a calendar coordinated with AusCycling and the Oceania Cycling Confederation.
“The advent of the UCI Continental Series this year resulted in a closer collaboration across the Tasman and a reassessment of what our organisation could reasonably commit to given this level of event in mind,” said MTBNZ President Ryan Hunt.
The first downhill competition will be hosted by Bike Methven at the impressive Mt Hutt facility on 17–18 January, with the second round incorporated at Christchurch Adventure Park on 19–22 February.
There will be a double-header weekend of cross-country racing held by Christchurch Singletrack Club on 23–25 January.
“It is great to have a strong group of established event hosts to work with this summer as we enhance the delivery of these events.”
Note: The 2026 UCI Continental Series events are yet to be confirmed by UCI.