The Giant 2W Gravity Enduro wrapped up its 13th season on Saturday with a thrilling final race, bringing together over 270 riders from across New Zealand for a test of endurance, skill, and speed. Held on the world-renowned trails of Whakarewarewa Forest and Skyline Rotorua MTB Park, the event delivered a mix of social racing, competition, and community spirit—all core to the event’s purpose.
Ready to Race? As race day approaches, fueling your body right is just as important as perfecting your downhill lines.
We've teamed up with CLIF Bar to give you the inside scoop on what to eat before, during, and after riding. Whether you're looking for power down each stage, or planning to stay energised 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 race day fuel. The Giant 2W Enduro, New Zealand's largest gravity enduro series, saw the country’s under-21 talent shine at this weekend’s event in Rotorua. Marking the second event in the series, six thrilling stages showcased world-class skills from rising stars and winners, Winni Goldsbury (Christchurch) and Joe Millington (Rotorua). Goldsbury, fresh off two UCI MTB Enduro World Cup wins in Europe, dominated the women’s field to claim 1st place. Millington secured the top spot for the men, marking his second win this season. Both riders exemplify the high-calibre talent nurtured in New Zealand, with Millington previously receiving the 2W’s Mark Dunlop Scholarship, which helped fund his racing experience overseas. “Pretty stoked to come here and ride the tracks and do well in the race.” says Goldsbury “It’s sick—quite different to where I normally ride. There’s no rocks here, which I appreciate, and it’s very smooth. The competition was pretty sick. Everyone was lovely—and fast! Great to go riding with Kate Hastings (2nd) and George Swift (3rd), they’re really fast and great people.” Millington’s race tactics were to keep it simple. “I kinda just ride my bike how I want to ride my bike and hopefully the result comes at the end. I had a bit of a crash on the first stage and lost a bit of time, so I was a bit worried, but I managed to pull it back in the end. I love the racing here. I think it’s the best place to race.” The Giant 2W Enduro season wraps up on 1 February 2025, when the season champions will be crowned. The event will also unveil the 2025 Mark Dunlop Scholarship and Cole Walker Award recipients, continuing the series’ tradition of investing in young talent. With entries still open at www.2w.co.nz, riders are encouraged to secure their spot in New Zealand’s premier gravity enduro event, owned by Rotorua Mountain Bike Club and run by local endurance event specialists, Nduro Events. Podium results: 6 Stage Overall: 1st. Joe Millington & Winni Goldsbury, 2nd. Daniel Cobb & George Swift. 3rd. Asher Hard & Kate Hastings. 6 Stage Overall eBike: 1st. Scotty Barr-Smith & Merryn Phillips, 2nd. Jeff Carter & Mia Musgrove, 3rd. Tony Watson 4 Stage Overall: 1st. Pearce Signal & Addison Rutherford, 2nd. Dom Leusink & Sophie Bayley, 3rd. Carter Thorne & Kote Kirkcaldie. 4 Stage Overall eBike: 1st. Warren Bartlett, 2nd. Connor Fitzgerald, 3rd. Mark joui Quines Cruise up, race down was the mantra in the minds of riders of the final race in the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro season, held exclusively here in Rotorua. Over 350 riders descended from across the country onto Te Putake O Tawa to take on the world-class trails of Rotorua 2020 was like no other, the Mark Dunlop applications could not be split. This is the story about the two recipients Connor Hamilton and Samuel Shaw. Daniel was heading into his first year of Elite racing when he received the Mark Dunlop Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship guaranteed him a season of overseas racing in 2019 which turned out to be his most successful season yet.
Dylan was the 2023 Mark Dunlop Memorial Scholarship recipient and has used it to launch his Enduro career. Read below about Dylan’s journey. “Firstly, I want to give a big thanks to the Dunlop family, the Rotorua MTB Club, and 2W Enduro for their support, enabling me to race 5 rounds of the UCI Enduros across Tasmania and Europe.
At the beginning of 2022 after some quite good results in XC races and a couple giant 2W Enduros Charlie decided he was going to commit to a couple months of XC racing in Europe and America, here is his story.
Robin Goomes received the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro Mark Dunlop Scholarship in 2021 and is the first female to do so.
Mark Dunlop was a much loved member of our community. He was a passionate advocate of the sport who loved to foster and support other riders' mountain biking aspirations, and he had the courage to chase his dream overseas. Now, his legacy lives on through the Mark Dunlop Memorial Scholarship, awarded each year at the final Giant 2W Gravity Enduro event.
Each year, up to $10,000 is awarded to a deserving recipient thanks to the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro. The money awarded in the Mark Dunlop Memorial Scholarship allows the recipient to travel and compete internationally, fostering and developing role models in the New Zealand mountain bike community. |