BMX: Full gear for Bike Vegas

Carl Jones has his eye fixed on qualifying for the 2012 Olympics. Photo / APN

As many of us dread the idea of returning to work this week, hundreds of mountainbikers get back into gear at the fourth annual the Bike Vegas Summer MTB Cup.

The first race of three in the series throughout this month is held tomorrow on the world-famous Whakarewarewa Trails in Rotorua.

The riders are focused on building the base to be ready for the NZ MTB National Championship next month in Dunedin and the Oceania MTB Championship in March.

Locals Carl Jones and his good mate Scott Green are two of the new young breed looking to dominate the sport in the buildup to the Olympics.

Green was mindful of the busy season ahead as he enjoyed his summer holiday.

"It was good time to relax and enjoy Christmas with the family but I kept an eye on the nationals and know I want to put on a good performance there," said 20-year-old Green.

"This series is an important part of getting the build-up for the season right ... A lot of the boys from this area have a point to prove."

Jones, the runner-up to Mike Northcott from the 2010 NZ MTB National Championship, is out for revenge this year.

"I was the only guy to beat Mike last year but I want to do it when it really counts," said Jones, 22.

"The nationals is the only event on my radar at the moment and everything we have been doing is preparation. I am in the elite now and I really want that elite national title this year. I am fitter and faster than I have ever been before so I feel like I am ready."

Jones believes it is time to step up with his eyes fixed on another prize - qualification for the New Zealand team for the Olympics next year.

"There is only one spot in the New Zealand team and that will go to the national champion, so I want to win this year and then back it up in 2012 to qualify for London."

There are a select few riders, such as Northcott, Dirk Peters and Tauranga rider Stuart Holston, who have set the standard in recent years for local mountainbiking.

"Those guys have been the benchmark for a few years and now it is our time," said Green. "It is time to turn the plate upside down."

But the Bike Vegas Summer MTB Cup is not just for the elite. It offers three events with the option of competing in the 25km or 45km events.

About 200 to 300 athletes are at every race. "The 25km is for the recreational rider," said event organiser Marcus Diprose, adding that event has been popular with women and junior mountainbikers.

"It is not as technical, there are not as many climbs and it's a good introduction to competitive mountainbiking.

"The 45km is a real challenge and a great test for top-end riders."

This year, two initiatives have been added to the series in the King of the Mountain event, which covers an uphill stretch of the track that will be a time trial for all riders. There is also a points system for a technical stretch of trail to add more intrigue.

"The feedback was there are a lot of casual riders who want to take on the elite," said Diprose.

"They can hold it together and be very competitive over 2km but not 45km, so this gives them that chance to earn some bragging rights."

For every race, riders are competing for the single race title and times are aggregated over the three races to decide the overall series champion.

Making each event unique is not difficult on 100km of single trail.

"[The trails] have been made over such a long period of time and have more than 40 designers throughout ... there is huge variety and different flavour."

Green said: "It is a massive trail network and you can get lost in there.

"So each one of these events is different - they always set a good course and it's always challenging."

But according to Green and Jones, the time has come for the young locals to own their event.

"It is time for us to step up," said Green. "We have been building for a while and it's time for us to get the results and dominate."

Jones said: "Not only here at this event but at the nationals.

"I can't say how much I want that title, so it's time for me to show some maturity as a rider and take it out."