Mountain biking: Weather makes event a challenge

FIRST IN: Samuel Gaze rides towards the finish line in first place for the Whaka100. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

Heavy rain and slippery trails were not enough to stop more than 400 avid mountain bikers taking part one of the "toughest races in the southern hemisphere".

The ninth edition of the Whaka100 went ahead on Saturday, despite a severe wet weather warning for the region.

The event had 472 riders from seven countries competing on the brand-new course which boasts 70 per cent single track, 18 per cent gravel road, 10 per cent 4WD track, 2 per cent National Cycleway and 2000-3000m of climbing.

It is the first time the track has changed since the event began in 2007.

Nduro series organiser Tim Farmer said the track had been made harder with "more tough, technical stuff at the end of the course". "While some bikers enter the race with the cash prizes or category wins as their goal, most riders take part with the aim of improving on their personal times."

World-ranked rider Samuel Gaze was the first man to cross the finish line, completing the track in five hours, 13 minutes while Kim Hurst was the first woman to reach the end, coming in at the six-hour, 30-minute mark.

Farmer said this year's race was a wet one but the track did not get muddy or boggy.

"This year was probably the worst weather we have ever had and coupled with the new track, it would have certainly put extra time on the riders. For the front riders it was probably another half an hour and for the everyday rider, it would have been about an hour and a half.

"It was a mentally tough day but that made it all the more rewarding for people when they crossed that finish line. This race is meant to be one of the toughest in the southern hemisphere, even in the best weather, so this year we have definitely delivered on that promise."

He said the course provided a great contrast of groomed handcrafted trails to rugged back-country mountain bike bliss. "We will stick with this new track for the next couple of years and see how it goes. Mountain biking is definitely a growing sport in New Zealand and we have big plans in store."