Mountain Biking: Riders battle it out under the stars

The start of the 12-hour race on Saturday. Photo / Ben Fraser

Tireless mountain bikers rode through the night as they took part in the NZO Moonride at Whakarewarewa Forest over the weekend.

Just one or two laps separated many of the top riders in the event's different race categories.

The Moonride is now in its 21st year; for the last 14 of those it has been based at the Waipa Mountain Bike Recreation Area at Whakarewarewa.

Gary Sullivan, owner of event sponsors NZO, said the event had been a great success.

"It was good, and we had 24 hours of beautiful conditions.

The scene at the Waipa carpark.

"Everyone seemed to have a good time, and there were no major problems.

"There was a very relaxed atmosphere, so it was a really good vibe."

Those taking part in the 24-hour event crossed the start line at 10pm on Friday with the goal to ride as many laps of the course as possible.

A full day later, 45 laps of the 9km circuit was enough for Hamilton East-born Scott Ardern to claim victory in the 24-hour solo event. But it was a close run thing: second-placed Layton Aplin finished just two laps behind, on 43.

The Older Dudes category played host to an even tighter contest, with Team Maraetai Illuminati pipping Team Stupid Is Stupid Doe to the post by just one lap; five laps were all that separated the top five teams on the leaderboard.

And there was barely any light between the two top riders in the 12-hour solo event, with Connor McCormick and Sandra Wesley tying on 21 laps apiece. McCormick completed his laps some 16 minutes faster to take first overall.

Murray Fleming, general manager of Moonride organisers Event Promotions, said numbers had been as strong as last year, with around 160 teams and 35 solo riders taking part.

There was some drama in the 12-hour open team race for Rotorua team Team NZXC Racing: after starting the race with six riders, one more than competition rules allowed, organisers slapped the team with a 20-minute penalty.

But the team clawed back time and finished mere seconds behind first-placed Team Enduro Events, equalling their lap tally of 31.

The biggest score of the weekend came from Air Force Flyers in the 24-hour open team event, who put up a stonking 57 laps.

-Full results can be viewed at www.eventpromotions.co.nz/events/rotorua-moonride/results/