Heavy rain overnight was no impediment for champions Craig Oliver and Olympian Sammie Maxwell who successfully defending their national titles at the 2024 Whaka 100 MTB Marathon in Rotorua today.

After four hours of arguably the toughest annual mountain bike test in New Zealand, Oliver (MitoQ-NZ Cycle Project, Christchurch) out-sprinted younger brother Ben for the honours over the 100km test in the famed Whakarewarewa Forest.

​Experienced mountain bike professional Rae Morrison and promising schoolboy Josh Cavanagh took out the respective elite honours in the MTB Eliminator National Championships, staged as part of the Whaka 100 event in Rotorua.

National jerseys were up for grabs for the third time, with Cycling New Zealand partnering with the most popular MTB event in the country, which has attracted more than 3000 competitors over the weekend.

Hey Whaka 100 riders!

As race day approaches, fueling your body right is just as important as training hard. To help you optimize your nutrition, we've teamed up with CLIF Bar to give you the inside scoop on what to eat before, during, and after your rides. Whether you're gearing up for those intense climbs or planning how to stay energized throughout the race, this guide is packed with practical tips to keep you performing at your best. It's a must-read for learning where to start or what to tweak for your training and event day fuel.

Read on for knowledge!

​Lining up at the start of the Whaka 100, there’s an air of nervousness as the morning mist lifts to reveal a clear, crisp morning and a sea of hardy souls gathered at the start line of a big day on the bike. Some will know what they’re in for, others will not have a clue. I know what I’m in for, but not exactly ready for it.

Sitting atop a bike in the middle of this crowd and scanning the scene, it’s obvious there’s quite the cross-section of society on the starting grid. I’m seeing every embodiment of nervousness, from nail-biting to full-belly laughs and a load of people generally fidgeting with nervous excitement.

Just who are these people, I wonder? My mind drifts, and I make my own assumptions:
See Part 1 here!

Lining up at the start of the Whaka 100, there’s an air of nervousness as the morning mist lifts to reveal a clear, crisp morning and a sea of hardy souls gathered at the start line of a big day on the bike. Some will know what they’re in for, others will not have a clue. I know what I’m in for, but not exactly ready for it.

Sitting atop a bike in the middle of this crowd and scanning the scene, it’s obvious there’s quite the cross-section of society on the starting grid. I’m seeing every embodiment of nervousness, from nail-biting to full-belly laughs and a load of people generally fidgeting with nervous excitement. Just who are these people, I wonder?

​My mind drifts, and I make my own assumptions: Denise the Doctor, Darryn the Dentist., Eddy the ebiker....

Our incredible volunteer sponsor, Holland Beckett, is big on community which we know our riders are too. How and where we can make an impact on our communities can seem complex and expensive. That's why Holland Beckett are helping solve two problems at once - sorting Wills and making an difference to our charities of choice.

Mons Royale is giving away four awesome chances to win a $250 voucher for the month of August. Simply aim for each weekly goal and/or go into our video creation competition.

Climb, ride the most, or the furthest each week to be in with a chance to win, or share a video on your Whaka training experience with us and best one wins!

We're bringing you our favourite trails from the Whaka 100, starting with Whāki out on the Te Putake o Tawa side of the Whakarewarewa forest. Unfortunately, course manager Tom took a pretty hard fall when we switched into Tūkonohi. Read on for more.

Music and exercise go hand in hand, whether its heavy beats to keep the legs spinning, or a podcast to keep the mind occupied. This is why the Whaka 100 MTB Marathon, presented by Rotorua NZ is excited to announce that Shokz have joined as Official Headphone Partner.  Read on to find out about our competition draw.

​We’re thrilled to announce that our That's It 10km and Whaka Kids 5km events have sold out in the last week! These fun rides are always a highlight of the Whaka 100, offering a fantastic introduction to mountain biking for adults and young riders alike. Participants in these events will receive finishers medals, celebrating their achievements in a fun, no-pressure environment.

Pre-orders are now open for our limited edition Whaka 100 merch, hit read more to find out more about our 2024 range.

We're now 85% sold out for 2024's Whaka 100! 
The Kids 5km Fun Ride is now sold out, with the That's It 10km Fun Ride not far behind. If you're thinking of entering for this year's event, make sure you secure your entry before they're all gone. 

Race Director ​Tim sets the record straight. We're not doing laps at Whaka 100! See our REAL Whaka 100 courses, packed with delicious & challenging singletrack goodness right here.

This maybe the toughest MTB 100 mile race?
We think so!
​Designed to be one of the toughest 100 mile events in the world, the riders of Whaka Miler are in for the challenge of a lifetime.

​Our Hydration Sponsor, Skratch Labs share a rapid fire lesson on sweat, hydration and how to manage it - useful for whether you're training inside or out, or on race day. Read the list and watch the video below.

The middle of winter is here, which means Zwift, frosty mornings, headtorches, and
mud. With just under five months until Whaka, now is the time to ensure your winter
foundations are established so that you can stay strong, healthy, and dedicated to
your Whaka goals. 

Here are 8 top tips to keep your progress ticking along during the middle of winter:

​We’re excited to announce that Shimano New Zealand will be joining the Isuzu Utes Whaka 100 as naming sponsor for the 100km marathon event. To celebrate, we're giving away a set of Shimano XT Brakes. Read on to find out more.