DAYS 3 & 4
Sam Blenkinsop leading the provisional overall ranking from (only) 46sc
As the second edition of the NZ MTB Rally 2025 reaches its third day, the energy and excitement among riders continue to build, setting the tone for an unforgettable week of riding. The 120 international riders have already had a impressive overview of what Nelson Tasman has to offer in terms of riding, after one day experimenting the steepness of Wairoa Gorge and the next cruising on the best flow trails of the Sylvan and Richmond Hills !
At this stage of the week, the rally spirit is in full swing—camaraderie runs high as riders from around the world share stories over evening meals, celebrate epic rides, and prepare for the challenges ahead. With three more days to go, the stoke level is undeniable, and anticipation is building for what’s next.
So if you’ve missed the action from the two first days, check this out. At this point in time, Sam Blenkinsop is leading the overall ranking with a cumulated racing time of 1h19:36sc, only 8sc ahead of Kilian Bron and 21sc ahead of Matt Walker, so the race is really tight for such a long race, and nothing is done yet, there’s 4 more days to go!
Now, time to head of to Abel Tasman National Park & Cable Bay !
DAY 3
ABEL TASMAN NATIONAL PARK & KAITERITERI
From Takaka Hill to the beach 6 stages // 45km // -2050m // +490m
Day 3 of the NZ MTB Rally takes riders on an extraordinary journey through a diverse and expansive landscape, including a rare opportunity to ride through a National Park—a privilege granted exclusively for this event. Today’s course offers a contrast to the previous stages, with more flowy terrain than Day 1 and a stronger backcountry feel compared to Day 2. Riders will navigate a dynamic mix of sandy, rooty, and gravelly surfaces, all while taking in breathtaking scenery.
The day starts and ends with amazing sunrise and sunset at Kaiteriteri Beach, recognized by TripAdvisor as one of the Top 10 beaches in the world. Participants can choose between the Regular Course, beginning with a scenic warm-up ride through coastal forest singletrack, or the Extended Course, which kicks off with a 30–45 minute climb offering spectacular views before rejoining the main route.
Most of the climbs are shuttled, but the NZ MTB Rally remains an Enduro race—so there’s still some pedaling each day! Just enough to keep you fit and guilt-free while enjoying that extra beer at the end of the day.
The first stage plunges riders into a steep, technical descent, starting as an old-school, fast-and-loose track with multiple line choices and challenging ruts. Midway through, it transitions into a purpose-built singletrack featuring exciting whoops, turns, and technical features, culminating in a steep chute into a gully.
From here, riders exit the park and follow the scenic Great Taste Trail to the shuttle pick-up. A 45-minute road shuttle, followed by a 20-minute off-road climb, takes them deep into Abel Tasman National Park, where an undulating 6km transition through stunning old-growth forest sets the stage for the final challenges of the day.
Stages 2 & 3 wind through The Rameka Project, a reforestation and carbon-offset initiative dedicated to restoring native forests. The NZ MTB Rally is proud to partner with this project, purchasing carbon credits to fully offset the event’s direct and indirect emissions.
It’s hard to understand how great each days trails are. Just getting to Stage two was worth the journey on its own, but Stage 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 gave us nearly everything from solid high power grip to off-cambered powder. It feels like every trail is the best ever
One of today’s highlights is the Rameka Pack Track, a century-old trade route that has been transformed into a fast and flowing masterpiece by the Golden Bay MTB Club. Riders will need to work the pedals to post a top time, and a short hike-a-bike section adds to the adventure.
Everything was going fine until Sam Blenkinsop and Matt Walker started plotting and hid in a bush, waiting for Kilian Bron.
Matt gave the green light for Sam to throw a rock at just the right moment, right into one of the spokes of his rear wheel. That same spoke then snuck into his cassette and decided to jam everything, forcing him to run the longest stage of the day Well played, guys. Bravo
True story (*except for the rock part, it came out of nowhere).
Kilian lost valuable seconds in this incident but still holds 3rd place in the overall ranking at the end of the day. With half the week still to go, it’s game on!
Further along, the Historic Rameka Track treats riders to breathtaking views over Golden Bay before dropping them into a mix of high-speed traverses and tight, technical switchbacks.
After a shuttle ride up Takaka Hill, the day continues on the newly completed Pikikirunga Trail—a fast and playful track, where skilled riders will need to judge their speed carefully over jumps and rollers. From here, the rally shifts gears with Mandini, a raw, steep, and untamed descent through native forest, rediscovered and reopened thanks to dedicated local trail builders.
Passing through a private farm with special access, riders will get a glimpse of rural New Zealand before reaching The Riwaka Resurgence, a sacred Māori site where crystal-clear water emerges directly from the ground. A quick, icy dip here is an optional but refreshing reward for those brave enough!
The vibes are great. No one's here to show off, just good laughs all around. We take naps before every stage, and when it's time to go fast, we go all in ! It's as simple as that. Such a great event
The final stage of the day, KarmaKaze-Treehugger, delivers a last dose of grippy, technical fun through the Kaiteriteri Bike Park
Abel Tasman National park is full of surprises !
Riders then return to where it all began : the picturesque Kaiteriteri Beach, where they were greeted with a well-deserved swim & cold beverage, basking in the glow of the setting sun and reflecting on the day’s achievements.
DAY 4
CABLE BAY ADVENTURE PARK
SAILING TO JURASSIC PARK 6 stages // 26km // -2100m // +750m
After a night in lodgings at the Kaiteriteri beach, racers were looking forward to an 80-minute cruise across to Cable Bay. As the sun rose over Tasman Bay, riders gathered on the beach, boarding onto the sleek vessel that would carry them to the start of an epic day of riding.
The catamaran crossing was a unique and scenic start to the day, adding to the rally’s adventure vibe, with breakfast and coffee served onboard to top off the experience.
The journey across the water provided a moment of calm before the storm, allowing riders to soak in the beauty of the coastline, and reflect on the past three intense days of racing. The relaxed atmosphere on board was filled with laughter and anticipation, as competitors exchanged stories and get excited about another big day of riding coming ahead.
One by one, riders disembarked onto the rocky shoreline, as their bikes were already waiting for them on the beach. The transition from sea to land was seamless, and within minutes, the energy shifted from chilling to thrilling as riders were getting to their bikes, the fourth day of the NZ MTB Rally 2025 officially began.
From the beach to Cable Bay Adventure Park is only a 20 minute warm-up ride on the road (and it’s less than 20mn drive from Nelson city center). The park features an extensive and continually expanding network of trails, meticulously built and maintained by dedicated volunteers, gathering weekly to share their passion for great trails and riding. The park’s trail system is primarily set within native forests, dense with towering tree ferns, podocarps, and black beech trees, creating a Jurassic Park-like atmosphere, but also within recent Pine-trees cultures, offering a wide diversity of terrain on the same day of riding !
After the boat crossing, the riders headed to the first race stages of the day, shuttling and pedalling up to reach the best trails of the Bike Park.
The terrain stepped up in both technicality and physical demand from previous days, requiring focus and skill. The loose and gravely conditions demanded caution to avoid wheel washouts and unexpected tumbles.
Cable Bay’s feed station is now a classic of the Rally: amazing sea-views from the eagles-nest position, and delicious food, prepared and served with love from the proud staff at the park who gave riders another great example of warm kiwi hospitality
Beyond the riding, the atmosphere was unbeatable. Cheering spectators, stunning panoramic ocean views, and a relaxed post-race vibe made the day feel more like an epic group ride than a competition.
New rule for the last stage of the day for the top 4, Sam Blenkinsop, Kilian Bron, Matt Walker & Tuhoto Ariki : the timing doesn’t stop when crossing the finish line, but only when they’ve finished drinking their ice-cold local craft-beer !
After an adrenaline-fueled day, riders capped off the event by celebrating with cold beers, food, and camaraderie at the finish. The river provided the perfect spot to cool off before shuttles departed for Nelson City, dropping riders at The Rutherford Hotel. From there, participants navigated to their accommodations for a well deserved night of rest before the heli-day!
As the NZ MTB Rally 2025 pushes past its midway point, the first four days have delivered an unforgettable mix of technical challenges, breathtaking landscapes, and true adventure riding. Every stage has pushed riders to their limits while rewarding them with some of the best mountain biking experiences New Zealand has to offer.
The camaraderie among participants has only grown stronger, with shared moments of triumph, exhaustion, and exhilaration bringing together riders from across the globe. The catamaran crossing to Cable Bay on Day 4 was a highlight, reinforcing the rally’s unique approach to blending world-class riding with once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
But the best is yet to come. Day 5 will take things to the next level with an unforgettable heli-drop into the legendary Wakamarina trail—an iconic descent packed with flowing singletrack, native beech forests, and high-speed technical sections. Then, the final day will bring the rally back to the heart of Nelson for a spectacular closing stage, where riders will push through one last day of incredible trails before crossing the finish line in celebration.
With two epic days ahead, the NZ MTB Rally 2025 is set to end on a high note, cementing its reputation as one of the world’s most thrilling multi-day mountain biking events. Stay tuned as we head toward an unforgettable finale!
STAY TUNED :
Photos : ©Mikhail Huggins
