April 22/05 2:46 am - Update to 2006 MTB World Championships in New Zealand

Posted by Editoress on 04/22/05
 

2006 UCI World Mountain Bike and Trials Championships in New Zealand

With less than 18 months to go the UCI has released the provisional programme for the 2006 UCI World Mountain Bike and Trials Championships in August next year. In an exciting development the UCI plans to implement a new category of competition. For the first time in a World Championships, Rotorua will feature an Under-23 women's XC/OX (Olympic cross country) race.

"This will open up a great opportunity for women emerging from the Junior age grades, such as Rotorua's own Carissa Wilkes, who is currently racing road and MTB in Europe." says Dave Donaldson, chairman of the Rotorua Organizing Committee.

The provisional programme: www.2006rotoruamtb.com.

New Zealand's two World Downhill Champions, Vanessa Quin and Scarlett Hagen are both heading to Europe to begin a full round of world cup rounds leading up to defending their titles in Livigno.

Vanessa will hook up with her DIRT/Intense team and Scarlett will be meeting up with her new team Mad Catz/Iron Horse in Spain in the next week or so.
First pic of Scarlett with her new rig

While the top Kiwi riders head to the Northern hemisphere, autumn in Rotorua (and most of NZ) has been a continuation of summer - beautiful clear days, but cooler temperatures that are ideal for mountain biking. The forest has been full, night riding has started and some big events have been run or are coming up.

Happy Trails from the 2006 Worlds Crew