DAYS 1 & 2

NZ MTB Rally 2026 Kicks Off with Thrilling First Two Days !

The third edition of the NZ MTB Rally is officially underway in the wild and wonderful Top of the South, and if the first two days are anything to go by, the 2026 edition is shaping up to be an absolute belter.

From long-haul flights to high-speed slides—warming up for the rally, NZ style! !

120 riders from around the globe rolled into Nelson Tasman for six days of uplift-assisted enduro racing, combining world-class singletrack with the kind of logistics that make this event a proper adventure: helicopters, boats, 4×4 shuttles and a healthy dose of Kiwi backcountry hospitality.

Pros, privateers, influencers and everyday legends are all lining up together this week — chasing stage wins, surviving the long days in the saddle, and generally having a bloody good time riding some of the best trails New Zealand has to offer.

And after two days of racing, the leaderboard is already starting to take shape… with Ed Masters, Dylan Crane and Sam Blenkinsop as the fastest riders out there, but the gaps are really tight and there’s still a long way to go.

A fresh McCashins (ginger) Beer, new friends from all over the world, and the perspective of an amazing week ahead of you… That’s the feeling of Day 0 at the NZ MTB RALLY !

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Just before the first dinner, riders gathered for the traditional race briefing. Ali & Gabi, the couple behind the adventure, laid out the plan and logistics for the week ahead: six days of racing across Nelson’s best riding zones, a few surprises along the way, and a reminder that while the stages are timed, the experience is very much about the adventure. Dinner followed — proper Rally style, with quality food on the table and cold beers from McCashins flowing. As the sun dropped over Tasman Bay, the camp settled into that familiar pre-race buzz: stories starting to flow, and the quiet realisation that by this time tomorrow the legs would already be feeling it. Because once the NZ MTB Rally starts… it doesn’t really ease you in.

Gabi & Ali, the couple behind this amazing adventure, and also Trans Savoie & Enduro2

What’s the plan?

The Rally’s circular itinerary comprises an original route conceived especially for the race; sandwiched between 3 National Parks, taking in a blend of both historic backcountry tracks and purpose built MTB trails. But if you’re thinking machine-build bike park, you’ll be in for a surprise. The trails in Nelson and the surrounding area consist almost entirely of hand-built singletrack built by an enthusiastic local MTB community comprising over 3000 active members.

In simple terms, NZ MTB Rally is an uplift-assisted enduro race. With 4 to 6 gravity-biased race stages per day, connected by scenic backcountry liaisons and shuttled uplifts using 4×4, helicopter and boat. Visiting a notably different ride-spot each day, from three different basecamp locations. It’s a route that gives the impression of going on a coherent journey, with a purpose, rather than simply cruising from one bike park to the next on a coach tour.

6 days is probably not enough to discover all what Nelson has to offer, but NZ MTB RALLY is definitely the most efficient way to enjoy the best bits !

DAY 1

THE WAIRORA

GORGE

A BILLIONAIRE'S PRIVATE BIKE PARK 7 stages // 29km // -2800m // +730m

While 2,800 vertical metres might sound manageable on paper, riders quickly realised these are no cruise-control bike park laps. The trails are raw, physical and constantly demanding — tight beech-forest singletrack littered with roots, rocks and endless direction changes. Alistair Jamieson, the Race Director (and also founder of the Trans-Savoie & Enduro2) warned during the morning briefing: you’re pretty much on the brakes the entire way down.

Day one dropped riders straight into one of Nelson’s most iconic riding zones: the legendary Wairoa Gorge. After a 30-minute shuttle down a narrow gravel road into the valley, riders arrived at what many describe as a mountain biker’s Disneyland: a vast trail network hidden deep in native beech forest. The area was originally purchased in the 1990s by a mysterious billionaire who built the trails purely for private riding, before later gifting the land to New Zealand’s Department of Conservation and the Nelson MTB Club. Today, the park boasts around 72 km of hand-built trails, and for Day 1 of the Rally the entire zone was reserved exclusively for racers. The format was simple: up to 7 stages and roughly 2,800 m of descending for the extended course, spread across a series of big uplifts on the Gorge’s steep central shuttle road.

A 4×4 fleet of various shapes and sizes, including Mitsubishi Tritons, a fleet of Troop-Carriers, and specially adapted, jacked-up 4×4 ski-field busses were needed to shuttle up all these riders on this rough terrain !

Epic riding

Once at the top, it was pure riding bliss. The Gorge’s stages delivered physical but rewarding trails. Riders had to keep their wits about them: lines were tricky, roots were slippery, and a single mistake could cost precious seconds or, in some cases, a full stage. Despite the challenge, the vibe was classic Rally — plenty of laughs, high-fives, and the occasional “bloody hell, that was steep!” shouted into the trees.

An impressive suspension bridge spanned the clear waters of the river, bringing racers directly out to the finish paddock area.

Those already finished their day were more than happy to line up at the finish, and watch the spectacle of their competitors tackling this trail, descending from on high across the valley. The subsequent heckling was inevitable…and encouraged by the organisers who even provided vuvuzelas and air-horns to anyone that wanted to get rowdy about it. The atmosphere at the finish line was electric, as riders swapped stories about their best runs and near-misses over a traditional Kiwi sausage sizzle by the iconic suspension bridge. With cold beers and ciders one ice from local award-winning brewer, McCashins in hand, the day ended with laughter, high-fives, and the excitement of what lay ahead.

More than 40mn racing time for ED MASTERS!

Kiwi Edward Masters came out swinging, taking the overall lead with a combined time of 42:09. For a single day of enduro racing, that’s a seriously big chunk of flat-out race time — and that’s just the fastest rider, on the first day of the week. Masters grabbed stage wins on S2, S3 and S7 to set the pace. Right behind him was American Dylan Crane, finishing just 12 seconds back after winning S1 and S4 and keeping the pressure on all day. 2025 NZ MTB Rally winner Sam Blenkinsop took it easy to start the week and rounded out the podium in 3rd (+0:47), charging late with the fastest runs on S5 and S6.

Onboard with Dylan Crane

Dylan is from the USA, and recently won TRANS NZ. He’s currently second overall at NZ MTB RALLY

Find out what he’s looking forward to, what he thinks is different between NZ MTB RALLY and the Trans NZ, why does he love blind racing, and what he’d tell you if you still hesitate to the NZ MTB RALLY !

DAY 2

SILVAN FOREST

& RICHMOND HILLS

Flow, Views, and Good Vibes

5 Stages // -2200m // +470m

Day two brought a total change of scenery as The Rally moved toward a totally new destination, one not used in the first edition : Silvan Forest and the open ridgelines of Richmond Hills, combining lush singletrack with expansive coastal views. Silvan Forest Mountain Bike Park, is a privately owned 180-hectare forest with Matt the landowner a keen mountain biker (and actually racing NZ MTB Rally this year – talk about home trails advantage!). Established through a collaboration between the Griffin family and the MTB Trails Trust, the park features well-graded single-track climbing paths and exhilarating downhill runs suitable for various skill levels. Riders can enjoy stunning scenic views of the surrounding landscape. Today’s course tags together 3 seperate trail areas by including Jenkins Hill and Kingsland Forest, with 4 big shuttles and stunning transitions across the tops of the Richmond Ranges, between stages.

The pedaling liaison in the middle was just for the sake of earning the feedstation ! Day 2 was a big day of shuttling, and everyone loved it!

Stunning riding

Riders quickly discovered that the terrain rewarded a completely different riding style than the Gorge. Where Day 1 demanded patience and precision, today was about momentum, confidence and letting the bike run. Silvan Forest delivered tight, sculpted berms winding through towering pine trees, while the Richmond Hills stages were all about speed — fast, loose descents across open ridgelines overlooking Tasman Bay.

Sun, dust, and breathtaking views!

Tight racing!

Sam Blenkinsop (Zerode) set the benchmark on the day, taking the Elite Men win with a combined time of 30:47 across the five stages. The former Rally champion looked comfortable on the fast terrain, claiming the quickest runs on Stages 1, 2, 3 and 4, and carrying strong momentum throughout the day. American Dylan Crane(Revel) finished second (+0:32) after another consistent performance, staying within striking distance of the leaders on each stage. Day 1 leader Edward Masters (Pivot) rounded out the podium for the day in third (+0:33). The Kiwi showed his speed again by taking the win on the final stage, limiting losses and keeping himself firmly in the lead for the overall classification. Further back, Andrew Godfrey secured fourth on the day, followed by Richard Payne in fifth. In the Female category, Emma Olofsson secured her first place in front of Gabrielle Newman and Katie Flower

Emma Oloffson is leading the female category with 1:39:15sc of total time racing in two days

After a big second day on the bike, riders were more than happy to settle into the buses for the one-hour transfer to the next Rally camp in Kaiteriteri. For many, it was the perfect opportunity to sneak in a well-earned nap after a long day of racing.

Once in Kaiteriteri, the ocean was calling. Dusty riders quickly traded riding gear for swim shorts and headed straight for a refreshing dip in the sea before gathering again for dinner — another classic NZ MTB Rally moment to wrap up the day.

Onboard with Sam Blenkinsop and his Zerode Katipo !