Cycling: Elite along for the ride at Kona event

Top national rider Karen Hanlen will compete at the Kona Colville Connection next week in preparation for the Oceania Champs in Australia. Photo / Angela Davidson

Many of New Zealand's best mountain bikers have had the Oceania Champs in the back of their minds all summer and next week the Kona Colville Connection is the final hitout before that event.

The locally run event at the top of the Coromandel Peninsula, which celebrates its 10th anniversary on March 12, has again attracted national champion Carl Jones and Karen Hanlen who finished runner-up in the nationals.

The pair rode well last week at the MTB Nationals in Dunedin and feel they are peaking well to take on the Aussies when the Oceania Championship is held in Shepparton, Victoria from March 17-20.

"Every year the nationals are our big focus," said Jones, who was still buzzing after winning his first elite title last weekend.

"But we had a really solid result last year at the Oceania Champs and that has been a focus for our team to go to Aussie and go as hard as we can.

"I love the Colville event. It is really cool going camping and riding with our mates.

"It is a good hang-out time and also a good chance to get ready."

The Rotorua rider, 22, was stoked with first national elite title that has been some time in the making and comes with some responsibility.

"I have been working towards this for five years so to finally get over the line is a big deal," he said.

"I have just proven that I am the fastest mountain biker in New Zealand so I need to back that up - it is time for me to step on it now really."

Hanlen, who won the women's 72km title at Colville last year from 2009 champion Pam Hewlett of Auckland, is yet to decide what length race she will enter at Colville with a big week ahead.

"I need to be careful not to overdo it with the Oceania Champs the following week - that is the priority and I want to make sure I am fresh," said Hanlen.

"This is my first year of international competition so I am really excited about the chance to measure myself against some of the best mountain bikers from other countries."

Hanlen, 30, has no doubt the setting is what makes the Kona Colville Connection special.

"It is some of the best scenery in New Zealand and I saw some dolphins around the top of the Coromandel last year - I probably shouldn't have been looking - that was unreal."

For event organiser Graeme Brown having the likes of Hanlen and Jones compete is a fitting way to mark the 10-year milestone.

"It is great that they have signed up because its lifts the profile of the event when everyone else can see some of our best in action," said Brown.

"But it is also good for them because the marathon ride is not easy and there is no better way to be ready for a top competition than to be conditioned to racing."

Last year Jones won the 45km Ground Effect Get on Yer bike with a time of 2:12:27 from Adrian Retief, also of Rotorua, and will race the 72km event next week.

The Kona Colville Connection was created in 2002 by Brown with his good mate Jim Davidson when the pair was still involved in multisport and Brown is thrilled to see what it has grown into.

It will attract 1000-1100 mountain bikers of all abilities next weekend with three courses to choose from, all starting and finishing in Colville.

"There are two types of mountain bikers - those who love to ride the toughest and most challenging trails around and those that just want to explore the back country.

"This event really appeals to both."

The signature race is the 72km Kona Colville Connection which passes up the east coast to Port Charles, around the remote northern end of the peninsula on the coastal track and then back down the west coast through Port Jackson.

The 45km event attracts the rugged heavy duty off-road junkies and the family-friendly 24km Jungle Safari is for those who want a shorter or more straightforward course.

"There are entry points for all riders - the riders on the 24km track are often not worried about time," added Brown.

"They stop at the halfway point for a swim on the beautiful beaches and enjoy their day out in the back country ... the kids love it."

Brown said "the best scenery out of all the Coromandel" makes it one of the "must do" mountain biking events on the New Zealand calendar.

Hanlen and Jones agree but the date they have circled is March 17 and the week is all about fine-tuning and fitness for the big event in Shepparton.