Junior world champion Jenna Hastings, an emerging talent finalist at the recent Halberg Awards, and world No 7 downhiller Jess Blewitt, will compete in the Coronet Peak course downhill event.
Blewitt, the GT Factory team rider, was 10th in the world championships and seventh overall in the world cup, after competing in only five of the eight rounds.
The Queenstown rider, still just 20 years old, won the national championship title in 2021 and 2022 after winning the junior title in 2019.
Hastings (18), who rode for the Pivot Factory professional team last year, stormed to victory at the world championships in the junior category and went on to finish third in the world cup season rankings.
The pair will do battle in the elite downhill at the national championships in Queenstown and will no doubt set the pace in a rare chance for local fans to watch two of the world’s best female gravity riders.
There are three former winners competing in the elite men’s downhill in three-time winner and defending champion George Brannigan, two-time winner Sam Blenkinsop and 2018 champion Ed Masters.
Brannigan, the NS Bikes UR Team rider who is based in Queenstown, is a big fan of the mountain bike terrain in the region.
“The first thing I love is the dirt — it’s unbeatable, in my opinion," Brannigan said.
"And secondly, the Coronet Peak trail uses the mountain’s terrain so well. It flows naturally and is really fun to ride.
"I think Queenstown is a sick mountain biking destination because we have the right terrain and big mountains. There are so many options here to make good tracks."
Another rider to watch is last year’s runner-up, Tuhotu-Ariki Pene, the MS Mondraker rider from Rotorua.
Cross-country racing tomorrow could feature a changing of the guard with superstar Anton Cooper, who has won the New Zealand title six times in a row, coming back after an injury and illness-hit preparation.
Cooper, who rides for the Trek Factory team, has had a run of crashes, collisions and glandular fever that has thwarted much of his summer preparations.
He has travelled to Queenstown with the intention of racing, but will not take any significant risks with a big and important international season ahead including the Oceania championships and world cup, both important for New Zealand’s chances of qualifying for the Paris Olympics.
“I will see how things are when I get out on the course," Cooper said.
"I hope I can race, although it may not be at full effort because I have just not done any quality training or much mileage in the legs."
Fellow North Canterbury mate and Commonwealth Games medallist Ben Oliver, who has been runner-up behind Cooper in the past five years, could well push for the national champion’s jersey.
Others likely to be in contention include Craig Oliver, brother of Ben, and Nelson’s Cameron Jones.
Taupo rider Sammi Maxwell, still just 20, will chase her third straight victory in the elite women’s cross-country with likely challenges from fellow under-23 riders Mia Cameron (Taupo) and the Christchurch pairing of Amelie MacKay and Annabel Bligh, along with elites Jess Manchester (Rotorua), who made a return to world cup racing last year, and Nelson’s Josie Wilcox.
Cross-country racing is from 11.45am tomorrow with a new title for short course cross-country to be held on Sunday morning before attention turns to downhill, where finals start at 1.30pm.
