New Zealand mountain bike enduro riders head into the pivotal third-to-last round of the UCI World Series in the stunning surrounds of Val di Fassa, nestled in the Dolomites of northern Italy.
Leading the way is Charlie Murray, the Specialized Gravity rider from Christchurch, who lies third overall in elite men; Cooper Millwood (Yeti Development NZ, Alexandra) is second in junior men standings while rookie Winni Goldsbury (Specialized Gravity, Christchurch) is fifth in the elite women’s standings.
Murray, second place in the last round at Leogang in Austria, is 120 points off second with the leader Slawomir Lukasik from Poland clear of the competition.
Millwood has been consistently at the sharp end of the competition, second in Pietra Ligure, third in Bielsko-Biala, second in Loudenvielle and second in Leogang. The Yeti Development NZ rider is 100 points off the lead behind three-time winner Melvin Almueis (FRA) in a two-way race for the junior men’s title.
Goldsbury, the teenage rookie from Christchurch, has enjoyed a remarkable rise in the elite women’s competition on the back of podiums at Loudenvielle and Leogang.
Val di Fassa offers a mix of stunning scenery and adrenaline, with the iconic trails weaving through a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Dolomites, creating a truly unique backdrop. The trails comprise technical descents, and intense competition, all set in a natural arena that showcases enduro racing at its best.
The competition runs over two days, finishing in the heart of the event village amid music and celebrations. The first day comprises three stages of 5.9km over 23.4kms of liaison and 1100m of elevation gain with the highest point at 2090m. There are four stages comprising 9.4km on the second day over a total of 35.7km with 2.2km of elevation gain including two lifts.
Kiwi riders entered for the two days of competition are:
Elite men: Regan Doig (Mt Maunganui), Oliver Jenkins Jablonski (Christchurch), Edward Masters (Taranaki, Pivot Factory), Joe Millington (Rotorua – Yeti NZ Development), Charles Murray (Christchurch, Specialized Gravity), Lachie Ross (Upper Hutt), Matthew Walker (Kawerau, Pivot Factory).
Junior Men: Sam Cameron (Tauranga), Cooper Millwood (Yeti Development NZ, Alexandra), Marcus Sayers (Yeti Development NZ, Alexandra).
Elite Women: Winnie Goldsbury (Specialized Gravity, Christchurch), George Swift (Yeti-Fox Factory, Nelson).
Junior Women: Poppy Croucher (Rotorua).