Champs lure mountain bikers south

TOP CONTENDER: Kiwi cross country rider Anton Cooper in action. PHOTO/FOTOENGINEERS

Fresh off Crankworx Rotorua, the best mountain bikers in the country will head south to contest the New Zealand and Oceania champs for cross country and downhill racing.

The Altherm Window Systems New Zealand Championships are being held this weekend, for both cross country and downhill riders, at the Cardrona Bike Park near Wanaka.

Next weekend, Kiwi riders take on the best from over the Tasman when they host the Oceania championships in Queenstown, again for both disciplines.

World under-23 cross country champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Anton Cooper will look to defend his national elite title where he will again come up against 2014 champion Sam Gaze. The young full-time professionals are both chasing what will likely be one spot for the Rio Olympics.

The national championship is a selection event towards Rio before the pair make their elite debuts in the UCI World Cup in April, with two rounds offering important qualifying ranking points before selection.

Queenstown's Kate Fluker will be the hot favourite in the elite women's cross country event.

Meanwhile, interest is building around the return to top-level competition for Wellington's Samara Sheppard, a former under-23 World Cup winner, and rising star Amber Johnston (Rotorua).

Riders will contest the revamped course at the Cardrona Alpine Park with a 4km loop with 226m of elevation per lap in the cross country racing.

Cross country racing is being held today with downhill racing tomorrow at the nationals.