The national champs begin a big year for Cooper. He will race a full campaign of UCI World Cups as a fulltime professional.
"I've only ever done two races in Rotorua and they were just small ones," Cooper said. "I think the flowy nature of the trails is a lot different to the places I normally ride, which is good for variety - and the amount of trails is endless."
The champs are set to attract a large following from fans and riders.
"Anton is going to be a huge drawcard for spectators after earning his world champion status in September," BikeNZ, event manager Vicki Butterworth said. "Mountain biking is actually a very spectator-friendly sport with some great vantage points. Whether it's the multi-lap cross-country race on Saturday, or a point-to-point downhill event on Sunday February 17, fans can get in close and witness the non-stop action from some very fast and skilled athletes."
The festival will be a 10-day celebration of cycling and a mix of events and entertainment in one of New Zealand's premier tourist and adventure sport destinations.
The website - www.rotoruabikefestival.com - features a growing list of events from the iconic, long-running Moonride, the Redwoods Coast (no pedals, just momentum), to fun rides, bike polo, the BMX national qualifiers for the 2013 UCI worlds championships, bike speedway, the Giant Gravity Enduro to Frocks on Bikes.
The festival will also incorporate a major Bike Expo, showcasing the latest from the cycling industry.
