Twenty-seven New Zealand riders have entered the UCI MTB World Series dual competition for both enduro and downhill in Poland this weekend.
There are 12 riders from New Zealand entered in the second round of Enduro World Cup in Bielsko-Biala in southern Poland, with competition based over the Enduro Trails network on Friday and Saturday (local time).
Meanwhile the nearby Szczyrk Mountain Resort is the base for the opening World Cup round for downhill, with 15 New Zealanders gravity riders entered for qualifying on Saturday and finals on Sunday.
Kiwi teenage talent was to the fore in the opening round of enduro last weekend with Yeti NZ Development Team rider Cooper Millward finishing second in the junior men, while Specialized Gravity rider, Winni Goldsbury seventh in her elite women’s debut.
World No 3 ranked Charles Murray (Specialized Gravity) was mid-pack in 11th last weekend in Italy, but will look forward to a return to Bielsko-Biala where he scored the elite men’s world series victory last year.
It is a one-day race across the region’s best enduro trails over five stages with a total of 1320m climbing (plus 440m via gondola) and 1600m of descending.
There is anticipation for the opening round of gravity competition as Bielsko-Biała has quickly risen as a premier destination for downhill mountain bike racing. Perched at 1000m altitude, the downhill track is 2km in length, challenging riders with the technical trails. The track drops 410m and features some big jumps and gaps.
Leading the New Zealand elite entries is Rotorua’s Lachie Stevens-McNab, with the 21-year-old moving to the high profile Trek Factory Gravity team this year. Last season he enjoyed two podiums and went close to his first win in Poland, finishing the year ranked 12th in the world.
Stevens-McNab attributes much to his development to his family.
“I’ve gotten older and it’s just the way I’ve been brought up, just to work as hard as you can, don’t leave any stone unturned,” said Stevens-McNab.
“My parents support me through everything. But they see that I work hard. They’re just like, ‘if you want to do something and you work hard, we’ll always support you.’ I’m pretty lucky.
“I’m stoked that we’re starting in Poland and really looking forward to get racing.”
Stevens-McNab is joined by a bunch of kiwis entered including national champion Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (MS Racing), the experienced Ed Masters (Pivot Factory) and Christchurch’s Luke Wayman, who moves to the crack Continental Atherton team, on the back of two world cup podiums in the junior ranks last year.
The kiwi elite women are led by multi-national champion Jess Blewitt (Cube Factory), who earned a podium in a breakthrough season in 2024; two-time junior world championship medallist Sacha Earnest (Trek Factory) who moves to the elite ranks, while Rotorua’s Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory), a former junior world champion, has impressed after a return to top level competition.
Missing from the Poland round is two-time junior world champion is Erice van Leuven, but the encouraging news is that she has made a speedy recovery from her significant crash riding in Tasmania in February.
“Two weeks ago I had my final check-up and I got cleared to start back on the mtb,” said van Leuven. “I spent my first couple of days back on the DH bike and it feels so good to be back. Unfortunately it’s a bit too tight for me to be fully ready for Poland so I’ll be watching this one from home,” she said, with plans to head to Europe next week.
She moves to the high profile NORCO Racing team under the direction of four-time world champion, Greg Minnaar.
There’s keen interest in some world-class kiwis in the junior ranks including Tauranga’s Eliana Hulsebosch, signed to the crack Santa Cruz team, and enjoyed a win and three World Cup podiums in her first season.
The junior men’s contingent includes Kaikoura’s Oli Clark who has signed with MS Racing team and Hawkes Bay’s Tyler Waite moving to the Yeti-Fox Factory team.
The Enduro elite race is on Saturday from 8am local time while downhill qualifying in the afternoon with finals on Sunday from 11.30am with elite men at 2pm (local time).
The New Zealand entries are:
Enduro, elite men: Regan Doig Mt Maunganui), Asher Hart (Tauranga), Oliver Jenkins (Christchurch), Edward Masters (Pivot Factory), Joe Millington (Rotorua – Yeti NZ Development), Charles Murray (Specialized Gravity), Lachie Ross (Upper Hutt), Matthew Walker (Pivot Factory).
Junior men: Cooper Millward (Yeti Development NZ), Marcus Sayers (Yeti Development NZ).
Elite women: Winni Goldsbury (Specialized Gravity), George Swift (Yeti-Fox).
Downhill, elite men: Nico Arnold, Wyn Masters, Lachlan Stevens-McNab (Trek Factory), Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (MS Racing), Luke Wayman (Continental Atherton).
Elite women: Jess Blewitt (Cube Factory), Sacha Earnest (Trek Factory), Jenna Hastings (Pivot Factory).
Junior men: Seppy Binsbergen, Malik Boatwright (Team High Country), Oli Clark (MS Racing), Tyler Waite (Yeti Fox Factory), Jonty Williamson (Yeti Fox Factory).
Junior women: Bellah Birchall (Team High Country), Eliana Hulsebosch (Santa Cruz).