Cycling: A race close to the champion's heart

Garth Weinberg has a tattoo to mark his championship win. Photo / Supplied

Over Garth Weinberg's heart is the single-speed world championship tattoo. It is one of the zany and respected traditions of the mad-cap world event - every winner receives the SSWC branding to confirm their membership in an exclusive club.

"It's well-known that if you don't want to get the tattoo then don't win," said Weinberg. "I knew it was coming and I had a spot picked out - I wear it with pride."

The 39-year-old Rotorua resident, who works as a process engineer for Scion, achieved a long-held goal when he won the world championship on his home Whakarewarewa trails. He became only the second Kiwi to win the event - Clinton Jackson received the tattoo treatment after winning at Castlemaine in Victoria, Australia, in 2003.

"It was a pretty emotional time when I crossed the finish line," said Weinberg, who celebrated his win at the biggest SSWC since the championship began in 1999.

"There was a bit of pressure on me racing on my home trails so when it was finally all over it was quite a surreal feeling - I couldn't believe I had actually won."

Weinberg returns tomorrow to the Whakarewarewa trails - a network of more than 80km of trail built and maintained by volunteers - to compete in the winter mountain biking series as part of preparation for his title defence in Ireland on August 25.

"No one has ever won it back to back before so that would be pretty special. People don't necessarily expect me to win it as the defending champion, but they certainly expect me to race well so there is some pressure in that."

By tomorrow afternoon, Weinberg will have competed in all 10 of the winter MTB series and said it has been great to see the series grow in popularity over the decade.

"Mountain biking has become so much more accessible. It is awesome to see new riders giving it a go and guys trying out single-speed bikes as well. People are realising what a fun adventure these mountain biking events are."

About 400 riders will welcome in the 10th season of the winter mountain biking series on the world famous trail network.

The series consists of three events (June 12, July 17 and August 14) and many of the top riders will be using these races to build up for the Whaka 100 in October.

The events are designed by N-Duro to be classic, old-school style MTB races over one lap of challenging terrain, taking riders into the trail network and beyond with a great mix of uphill and downhill over forest roads and single track.

Event director Marcus Diprose prides himself on making the course different every time.

"We always mange to find a trail that hasn't been raced for years at some stage," he said.

Says Weinberg: "It is like Christmas at the start of the race seeing what route they have picked out for you.

"Whatever they come up with, you know there will be some decent climbs and good views but more often than not you are too knackered to enjoy them."

Eleven years ago the series began as a one-off race called The Highlander, run by Dave Donaldson. The next year the winter mountain bike series was born. In the first three years a 100 per cent growth was experienced each year, starting with around 130 riders and peaking in 2006 with 650 on the start line.

The event now averages 350 to 400 riders in each event for two courses, ranging from 20km to 50km on trails that give great views of the lakes and landscape.

"You go as hard or as easy as you like so it's a good series for entry riders and also the elite," said Weinberg.

Diprose: "Each year we see new faces which reflects the growing popularity of mountain biking.

"People enjoy the format we run with the long and short course, and we design courses that are achievable for all levels of rider. They can be tough but are achievable.

"We have a large age range across the events - the youngest around 10 to 12 up to about 65 to 70."

The guys have simple advice for athletes taking on the series for the first time.

"Pace yourself," said Weinberg. "Don't go out too hard at the start it is a big forest and some of the hills can be quite taxing so it is better to save yourself for later in the race. But most of all keep at it."

Diprose adds: "Just come along and participate. You can't beat exploring the forest in a safe race environment."

N-Duro Winter Series

Race Courses: Short Course
20-25km, Long Course 40-50km.
All races start and finish in Whakarewarewa Forest, Rotorua. Start and finish venues will vary with each race:

* Race 1: Sunday, June 12 - Long Mile Drive.

* Race 2: Sunday, July 17 - Green Lake carpark.

* Race 3: Sunday, August 14 - Long Mile Drive.

* Registration: You can pre-enter online on the website until the day before each event. Late entries for tomorrow's event are at HQ today from 2pm to 5pm.

* MTB riders can compete in all three short course or long course races for the chance to be crowned King or Queen of the series.

* Visit www.n-duro.co.nz











Coming up

Today

Multisport
Maungatautari Mission: Cambridge to Lake Karapiro: 32km road bike, 15km mountain run, 15km road cycle, 10km flat water kayak.

Tomorrow

MTB
Galaxy Travel N-Duro winter MTB series, Rotorua.

Running
XTERRA Auckland trail run series event 2, Shakespear Regional Park. Short 5, 8km; mid 10, 14km; long 16, 20km; super long 21km+ (short and mid courses can be walked).

June 19

Multisport
Tuatara Tours Brass Monkey Series: Race one, Lower Waimakariri River.

* petethornton8@hotmail.com