Mountain biking: Surprise win in first event

Local rider Matt Walker (pictured) won the first big event at Crankworx Rotorua yesterday, the Giant Toa Enduro. Photo / Clint Trahan

A surprised but elated Matt Walker (Kawerau) has won the first big event at Crankworx Rotorua - the Giant Toa Enduro.

Going into the event yesterday - during the opening day of Crankworx Rotorua - Australian rider Josh Carlson was heavily favoured to win the enduro race.

Carlson performed strongly at the SRAM Canadian Enduro at the last Crankworx in Whistler, Canada, but a flat tire took him out on the last stage yesterday.

That made way for local rider Walker who sealed the overall men's title on the final stage of seven, after placing eighth the year before.

"I was hoping for maybe a top 10 or top five, but to win is a bit of a surprise. I've been putting in quite a bit of hard work in the off season now and I guess it's paying off, so I'm really happy," he said. "It's been a hard day, quite long tracks and it hasn't suited my preparation, I guess, but I'm stoked on how today has gone. I've been having a lot of fun - it's good times all round."

Walker is the brother of Olympic BMX silver medallist Sarah Walker.

Sharing the limelight, 2015 Queen of Crankworx Anneke Beerten (Netherlands) proved her mettle, charging in to win the women's title.

Beerten admitted she was thrilled to have the monkey off her back, so to speak, with the win kick starting her 2016 season.

"I thought it was pretty cool ... we had enough time between transfers. It was nice, with the whole group of girls we had riding together, the vibe was amazing."

Rotorua's Annika Smail also made her way onto the podium, finishing third. When interviewed halfway through the racing, Smail said she thought she had no chance of mixing it with the top riders.

"I don't think I will be anywhere towards the top but I'm having fun," she said.

Rotorua couple Carl Jones and Kate O'Neill also performed strongly during the event, finishing fifth in the men's and women's races.

Enduro racing mixes aspects of downhill and cross country mountain biking and is split into stages. The racing was held in the Whakarewarewa Forest and under the gondolas on Mt Ngongotaha.

Giant Toa Enduro results:

Men: 1 Matt Walker (NZL) 35:06 minutes, 2 Eddie Masters (NZL) 35:31, 3 Josh Carlson (Aus) 35:34, 4 Sam Blenkinsop (NZL) 35:42, 5 Carl Jones (NZL) 35:42.

Women: 1 Anneke Beerten (Netherlands) 40:38 minutes, 2 Rae Morrison (NZL) 40:52, 3 Annika Smail (NZL) 41:14, 4 Vanessa Quin (NZL) 43:01, 5 Katie O'Neill (NZL) 00:43:28.

Crowd favourite:

* The Oceania Whip-Off Championships has proved a huge hit at Crankworx Rotorua, with spectators turning out in their thousands to watch riders take on a 3.5m-tall jump.

* The whip-off event was staged last night under the gondolas on Mt Ngongotaha with riders dropping off a huge platform before hitting the large jump at speed.

* Each rider was judged on their best whip - which basically sees each rider turn their bike sideways while in mid-air. The crowd lapped up the event with plenty of cow bells and cheers ringing around the venue.

* A total of 2500 locals attended the event, with Rotorua residents getting in free.

* Ryan Howard (US) won the best men's whip-off, while Casey Brown (Canada) won the women's whip-off.