Mountain Biking: Enduro World Series entries sell out in Rotorua

(Photo by clint trahan/crankworx)

Entries into the Giant Toa Enduro - being held during Crankworx Rotorua - have sold out in less than three minutes.

Selling out in under three minutes, the event secured a new Enduro World Series (EWS) registration record yesterday, with a rich field of New Zealanders and internationally-based amateurs set to join the professional riders for race day on March 28 in Rotorua.

The Giant Toa Enduro is shaping up to be a fascinating race with a field of competitors from all mountain bike disciplines set to take on the course at Crankworx Rotorua.

All but one of the top 20-ranked men and women from the 2014 EWS season are set to ride, and a number of professional downhill racers have registered, as well.

"This is probably one of the most interesting, stacked mountain biking races with top enduro, cross country and downhill athletes all entered in this one event," Neil Gellatly said, Giant Toa Enduro race director.

The race roster includes world downhill champions Sam Hill, Steve Peat, and Greg Minnaar, who will ride alongside several top downhillers from New Zealand - Sam Blenkinsop, Brook MacDonald, Cam Cole and Matt Walker.

Of the 400 racers registered, 40 per cent are from New Zealand, with 17 other nations represented including: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, France, Israel, Spain, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, South Africa, Switzerland, Sweden and, for the first time in an EWS event, Tahiti.

Race registration from New Zealand shows equal interest from all regions, with riders from Auckland (10%), Christchurch (10%), Dunedin (5%), Queenstown (10%), Nelson (10%) and Wellington (15%). Rotorua has, nonetheless, secured the most representation with 20 riders on the list.

Sponsored by Giant Bicycles, the Toa Enduro Rotorua marks the opening race for the EWS and will be one of five competitive events at the inaugural Crankworx Rotorua.

For those who didn't make the race cutoff, and true enduro fans, Crankworx will once again broadcast the event live and names are being accepted on a waitlist at www.enduroworldseries.com/waitlist/R1.

To date, Crankworx has offered the only live enduro coverage, broadcasting its Whistler event annually.

"We hope to take our live race coverage to new levels this year," Darren Kinnaird said, Crankworx Word Tour manager.

Tune into Crankworx.com at 7am (NZDT) on Saturday, March 28 to watch how it all unfolds.