Some of Rotorua's best mountain bikers will be aiming for success in the second race of the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro series tomorrow. About 500 riders are taking part and will tackle six stages and up to grade five technical trails in the premier event in the Whakarewarewa Forest.
There are 112 Rotorua riders competing - with local riders Keegan Wright, Carl Jones, Daniel Self and Annika Smail all gunning for the top category titles.
Wright, 20, who won the opening Gravity Enduro race in October and the overall series title last year, said he was feeling confident although admitted he was wary of a competitive field which included New Zealand professionals Justin Love, Wynn Masters and Joseph Nation as well as Australian Paul Van Der Ploeg.
"It's going to be a very tough race but the competitive field will just make me push even harder," he said. "I want to keep things rolling along after my first win and I do have the edge of regularly racing and training in the area.
"There are some big names floating around in the field and I think Wynn may be one for me to keep an eye on.