One of the country’s largest enduro mountainbike events rolled into the Top of the South last week, with the New Zealand Mountain Bike Rally showcasing the Nelson Tasman region’s world-class trails.
More than 120 competitors tackled 32 stages and 180 kilometres of track across six demanding days. Riders travelled from more than a dozen countries to compete in 12 different classes, with professionals, privateers, influencers and everyday racers lining up to chase stage wins and survive long days in the saddle.
Day one dropped riders straight into one of Nelson’s most iconic riding zones, the legendary Wairoa Gorge. After a 30-minute shuttle down a narrow gravel road into the valley, competitors arrived at what many describe as a mountainbiker’s Disneyland, a vast trail network hidden deep in native beech forest.
The park boasts about 72km of hand-built trails and, for the opening day of the rally, the entire zone was reserved exclusively for racers. The format was simple, with up to seven stages and roughly 2800m of descending for the extended course, spread across a series of big uplifts on the Gorge’s steep central shuttle road.
Day two delivered a complete change of scenery as the rally moved toward Silvan Forest and the open ridgelines of Richmond Hills. Swedish professional Emma Olofsson described the stage as “One of the best spots for biking ever – the views of the mountains and beach were incredible.”
Riders were treated to the Kaiteriteri MTB Park and surrounding tracks on day three, and for most it was their first time riding trails connected to Abel Tasman National Park. Riding access in this protected environment is extremely rare, making this stage of the rally a true privilege for competitors.
Queenstown-based rider Ed Masters says the day ticked every box.
“I’ve always wanted to ride at Kaiteriteri, as I’d heard so much about it. It was also pretty special to be able to ride on private trails in the area. They use the natural terrain really well – a lot of the trails I’m used to riding are often made with machines, so this place is really cool.”
Day four kicked off in style with a one-hour sunrise boat cruise across Tasman Bay into Cable Bay, where the Cable Bay Adventure Park delivered steep descents and tight racing.
An iconic experience greeted riders on day five, with helicopters dropping small groups onto a remote ridgeline at the entrance to the legendary Wakamarina Trail, one of New Zealand’s most renowned backcountry rides.
The final day saw competitors roll into the Maitai Valley and the official trail network that helps make Nelson one of the country’s premier mountainbiking destinations. While the final stages celebrated the end of the six-day journey, racing remained tight.
Emma claimed the women’s overall title, while in the men’s category the top two riders were separated by just 18 seconds, an extraordinary margin given the number of stages and kilometres covered. Ed took the overall crown from Whanganui rider Sam Blenkinsop, but says the shared experience mattered more than the result.
“We’ve shared such an amazing week together, riding some of the best trails in the world. I’ve travelled a lot, and the Nelson trails truly stack up worldwide. It was pretty intense to share that with all these legends.”
