The Beast of Whaka

There are thrilling rides and then there’s the Giant Miler, one of the most demanding single‑day mountain bike challenges on the planet.

​Part of New Zealand’s celebrated Whaka100 MTB festival weekend, the Giant Miler pushes riders beyond what most endurance cyclists ever imagine attempting. Already in its short history, the Miler has earned a reputation not just for distance, but for the relentless test it lays on both body and mind.

What Makes the Giant Miler Different?
Unlike multi‑stage or multi‑day races, the Giant Miler is a one‑day ultra‑endurance event and it isn’t gentle. Setting off pre‑dawn from Rotorua’s Waipa MTB Carpark, riders face 172.6 km of predominantly singletrack, weaving together technical terrain, flowing trails, and relentless climbs that chew up elevation and legs alike. Total ascent: 5,897 m, it all comes before you even think about finishing.

This isn’t a smooth, graded gravel ride; it’s world‑class mountain bikingand most of it isn’t forgiving. The Miler course demands technical skills, fitness and a strong mental state from every athlete brave enough to attempt it.

In four years of running, fewer than 200 riders have finished the Giant Miler. Of those, just 16 have been women, a testament to both the difficulty of the terrain and the steep demands of the day. Among that select group, Annika Smail and Emma Bateup share the record for most wins, each etching their names into the event’s growing legacy. Australian standout Jon Odams has dominated the men’s field with three consecutive victories, proving consistency and grit matter as much as raw power. (user‑provided stats)

With such a small number of finishers, every result tells a story of endurance, strategy and sheer resilience — and each finisher carries a rare badge of honour earned on the trails of Whakarewarewa Forest.

Australian rider Jon Odams, who has won the event three years running, put it bluntly:
Nothing compares to it for the challenge and the trails in the Forest. Most races and courses have a place you can save some energy, but I feel like the Miler is a test of a complete MTB rider. No strength is left untested. There’s no other race I know of quite on the same level.

That’s coming from someone who’s raced across Australia, North America and Europe and still calls the Giant Miler a class of its own.

International Respect, Even From the Toughest Fields
The Giant Miler isn’t just a local marker of excellence. Across the international MTB community, riders compare it to some of the toughest ultra‑endurance versions of the sport including legendary races like the Leadville100 in the United States. Many who have ridden both put the Miler on par or even consider it tougher thanks to its technical singletrack emphasis and sustained climbing over varied terrain.

Race Day Rhythm
Race day starts long before sunrise. At 4:30 am, the forest is still waking as riders roll out into mist, headlamps cutting through the early morning darkness. The event operates strict cut‑off times based on an 11.5 km/h average pace, a hard marker on an even harder course and riders must carry mandatory gear including lights, survival equipment and tools.

Support on course is lean but critical: there are self‑serve water stations and a central feed zone stocked with fuel, fluids and basic supplies. A bike mechanic is on hand at the feed zone to help with mechanicals, while bike patrol offers assistance and encouragement between key sections.

The Bigger Picture
The Whaka100 event overall is pitched as the toughest one‑day mountain biking festival in the Southern Hemisphere, a place where riders push limits across distances from 25km up to the Giant Miler itself. It draws a broad international field, with the Miler consistently attracting the highest ratio of overseas riders compared to the overall field, a reflection of its growing global recognition.

Why the Giant Miler Matters
For the riders who finish, the Giant Miler isn’t just another event completed; it’s a milestone, a test against nature, terrain and self‑belief. It’s an experience that stays with you long after the singletrack unwinds, the climbs are conquered, and the last metres of elevation are behind you. In an age of ever‑expanding options for ultra‑endurance rides, the Miler stands out, not just for sheer difficulty, but for the sense of achievement it delivers to anyone who reaches the finish line.

Learn more about the Miler

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