The UCI MTB World Series returns to home base in Europe, starting with the opening round of Enduro competition in Italy.
It is the first of 24 rounds across Enduro, Downhill and Cross-country competition in Europe before the final two rounds for XCO and Downhill in North America.
There are 11 New Zealand riders competing in this weekend’s opening round of enduro competition at Pietra Ligure, a tourist city on the Italian Rivera, 60kms from Genoa.
Leading the kiwi charge is Specialized Gravity team rider, Charles Murray who was third overall in the 2024 world series.
“You can’t control what happens at every race but if I can be fighting for that top three on every stage time, that will be the goal,” said Murray. “If everything goes to plan then the title is definitely within reach if my form is good. That is in the back of my mind but if I aim for the top three spots, then other things can fall into place.”
Blessed with downhill and endurance skills, Murray’s passion is enduro, which is the mountain bike equivalent of motor rally, where the contestants are timed over a series of short downhill tracks, which are joined by lengthy liaison trails. Successful riders have both the skills of downhill and the endurance of cross-country.
Riders will tackle 58km of riding with three timed stages totalling 12kms with 1480m of climbing and 61m of descents; while day two comprises 43kms of liaison with four stages of 7.5km total with over 1.2km of descents.
“Enduro can’t ever be the same as downhill and cross-country because of the broadcast challenges as we are out in the mountains for sometimes five hours,” said Murray. “But as a participant sport it is huge because that is what most people are riding. It is very relatable to the general MTB public and that is why we have such passionate fans.”
Murray has recovered from a challenging off-season with injuries to his right ankle and lower leg, restricting much of his build-up to the road but the Christchurch structural engineer is in top shape as he builds for the season ahead.
There are seven elite men from New Zealand competing this weekend, including 2023 World Cup enduro winner Matthew Walker from the Pivot Factory team, who won a World Cup round in 2023, and promising Rotorua rider Joe Millington, who has mixed enduro with downhill success in New Zealand over the summer.
George Swift (Yeti Shimano EP) takes over as the most experienced Kiwi rider in the elite women’s ranks, with the retirement of fellow Nelson-based Rae Morrison .
There will be interest in Christchurch teenager Winni Goldsbury, who won two rounds of the world series for junior women last year before the season was cut short with injury. She is joining Murray in the Team Specialized pro outfit, and moves to the elite female category.
“I like downhill – it is fun,” said Goldsbury. “But you only ride for a couple of minutes. However with enduro, you are riding all day. I don’t like waiting around for a long time to do one run.
“With enduro you can make a mistake and fix it or make up for it going through the stages. But if you get a mechanical in downhill, or make a mistake, then it is over.
“Moving up to elite for the first time, I am really excited at what is ahead for me and I want to make a good start this weekend.”
Day one will see the riders take on 57km across three stages while day two features four stages over 43kms with an extra 278m of climbing.
The New Zealand contingent is: Elite Men: Regan Doig (Mt Maunganui), Asher Hart (Tauranga), Oliver Jenkins (Christchurch), Joe Millington (Yeti Fox, Rotorua), Charles Murray (Specialized Gravity), Lachie Ross (Upper Hutt), Matthew Walker (Pivot Factory, Kawerau).
Elite Women: Winni Goldsbury (Specialized Gravity, Christchurch), George Swift (Yeti Shimano EP, Nelson).
Junior: Cooper Millward (Alexandra), Marcus Sayers (Alexandra).