
On the slopes
More than 20 of the world’s best riders have been confirmed for the largest mountain bike event to ever be held in New Zealand.
Natural Selection Bike, will be contested on the iconic Mt Dewar in Queenstown where work has just finished on a world-class mountain bike course.
The rider lineup for the February competition includes 22 athletes from nine countries. A big addition to the roster for Kiwi fans is Robin Goomes. The Chatham Islands/Rotorua rider had a breakthrough year in 2024, winning the Red Bull Rampage to cement her status as the best female rider on the planet.
Excited to be competing at Natural Selection Bike, Robin says “The track is looking amazing, and I can’t wait to get to ride in front of a home crowd. The athlete lineup is epic so it is going to be an unreal competition.”
The event features a men’s and women’s division and will combine the three most dynamic disciplines in mountain biking: Big Mountain Freeride, Slopestyle and Downhill. Event Director Sophie Luther says the inaugural event, from 8-15 February, promises to be one of the most exciting and progressive mountain bike events globally in 2025. Formerly known as Proving Grounds, the competition is now part of the Natural Selection Tour, which is expanding from its snowboarding roots to include mountain biking, surfing, and skiing.
Images: (top) Robin Goomes by Paul Foley, (below) Natural Selection Course by Callum Wood.