The Prospector Mountain Bike Stage race is expected to bring hundreds of mountain bike enthusiasts to Central Otago when its inaugural event is held in Alexandra on the 12th- 14th of March 2021. 

The event is co-founded and organised by local businessmen James Williamson and Phil Oliver, who have many years of experience in the bike industry and running cycling events. 

They both were part of the team that brought The Pioneer Race to the area in 2018 and 2019. 

However with the movement of that event to the North Island and its subsequent cancellation, there was a big gap left in the NZ Mountain Bike calendar. 

MTB Stage races are incredibly popular worldwide and with our unique location and spectacular riding on our back doorstep in Alexandra, James and Phil saw this as an opportunity too good to miss.

They believe it will be one of the biggest events on the New Zealand Mountain bike calendar.

Over the course of three days, teams of two riders will tackle the many rocky, thyme encrusted single tracks that Alexandra is infamous for. 

The race will challenge the riders skills, fitness, grit and determination while at the same time rewarding them with some of New Zealand’s best and most unique single tracks. 

The Prospector MTB Race hopes to bring hundreds of riders and their supporters to Central Otago for four to five days, before, during and after the event. 

The event will be designed to be challenging and achievable for a large range of rider abilities, with categories for juniors through to grand masters and a separate E-Bike category.

It is expected that the top end of New Zealand’s competitive riders and Olympic hopefuls will be attracted to the event as a build-up race before departing on their overseas campaigns.

The event organisers said they aim to bring several hundred mountain bikers and their supporters to the area for four or five days during the event, as well as establish Alexandra as a top mountain bike destination.

Elite New Zealand Mountain bike rider Ben Oliver said “The Prospector MTB Stage race is an event the NZ calendar has been missing”. 

“Most European riders use stage races to build endurance for the XCO season. 

“To have one in our backyard will be super beneficial as I look to have a strong start to the year and chase Olympic qualification points.”

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The event is expected to be a major asset to the local area, which already has a booming cycle tourism industry. 

“The beauty of the Alexandra area is that you have a massive variety of cycling options right on your doorstep,” James said.

“Whether it’s road cycling, gravel riding, bike packing, cycle trail riding, downhill, enduro or XC mountain biking you can literally do it all right here and never have to travel. 

“Not only that, but the riding in all respects is world class, with unique trails and routes that are like nothing else found anywhere in NZ. 

“Pair that with our sunny warm climate and you have a match made in heaven.”

James said cycle tourism in this area has primarily been based on the Rail Trail and other recreational cycle trails, which has benefited the area greatly to this point and boosted many businesses around it. 

“However there has always been a lack of focus on the other forms of cycling available here, especially mountain biking. 

“We believe that this event will be a massive drawcard for the area, bringing people in pre-event to practice, and then returning post event to enjoy the trails they have discovered and explore further.”

The race will take in the sights of Central Otago and aims to establish the area as a top mountain bike destination in New Zealand. 

The event is designed for riders with a reasonable amount of mountain bike experience. 

The courses take in the best of the tracks on offer in Alexandra, and this includes a large amount of grade 3 and some grade 4 singletrack.

“However,  with plenty of time to train and prepare over the summer, anyone who is an enthusiastic mountain biker can get themselves up to speed and ready,” James said. 

“Mountain biking is very accessible in this area, the Alexandra Mountain bike club has done some amazing work over the years in building trails for all levels that are easily ridden from the town. 

“There are trail maps available at all the local bike shops which will show you the level of trail and how to access it. 

“There are also many regular group rides on in the evenings during the week, the local bike shops can help point you in the right direction to finding the right group for you.”

Full event details and entries to be released soon. 

Keep up-to-date with the Prospector MTB Facebook page here.

Photos courtesy Prospector MTB Race. 

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