Mountain biking: Enduro junkies get ready

A competitor from a previous 2W Gravity Enduro. Photo/Mead Norton

The Giant 2W Gravity Enduro is part of the Rotorua Bike Festival and is a gold category Enduro event in the NZ Mtb Crown - so big points are up for grabs.

Gravity Enduro is the style of racing where people who ride over the start line as strangers can spend a day shredding the trails, exploring the forest, drinking and eating from our first class food and coffee providers, cruising the hills or taking a shuttle, and then cross the line as kindred Enduro spirits.

The field is stacked with talent from as many as 18 countries. Top riders expected to be competing for podium spots include:

Men

Jamie Nicoll (2013 EWS no#8 ranked rider as a privateer, signed for Team Polygon UR for 2014 Enduro World Series; winner of 2013 Urge 3Peaks Enduro & recently 2nd at Dodzy Memorial Enduro);

Justin Leov (2013 EWS no#11 ranked rider with Trek, signed for Trek Factory Racing again for 2014 Enduro World Series; recent winner of the Dodzy Memorial Enduro);

Sam Shaw (February 2013, Giant 2W Gravity Enduro winner riding for Yeti);

Matt Walker (October 2013 Giant 2W Gravity Enduro winner on board a Giant);

Wyn Masters (17th at 2013 ICU World Mtb Champs DH)

Tom Lamb (winner 2012 Urge 3Peaks Enduro);

Byron Scott (winner 2014 Go Native Enduro);

Kurt Lancaster (Recently 3rd behind Jamie & Justin at Dodzy Memorial Enduro last weekend);

Mike Metz (local Bike Culture owner/operator very handy on any bike he rides).

Women

Rosara Joseph (2013 EWS no#7 ranked rider & winner February 2013, Giant 2W Gravity Enduro winner riding for Yeti; winner of 2013 Urge 3Peaks Enduro & recent winner of the Dodzy Memorial Enduro);

Raewyn Morrison (October 2013 Giant 2W Gravity Enduro winner on board a Giant);

Jenna Makgill (runner up in Feb & Oct 2013 Giant 2W Gravity Enduro's, Liv/giant Sponsored Rider);

Meg Bichard (recent Top Gun winner and 5th at Dodzy Memorial Enduro);

Gabby Molloy (recently 3rd at Dodzy Memorial Enduro - local riding for POC, Marzocchi, ENVE New Zealand);

Heather Logie (ex, Australian Mtb rep).

Come raceday, riders will be released from Eat Streat in the centre of Rotorua in groups of four every 15 seconds between 10am and 10.30am on Saturday, February 22. They will have six hours to complete six special race stages in Whakarewarewa Forest and return back to the start/finish.