Oceania Mountain Bike Continental Series to launch in 2025

Mountain Biking in Oceania is set for a boost in 2025 with the launch of the Oceania Mountain Bike Continental Series.

The Continental Series was developed in close collaboration between the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the Continental Confederations.

The Oceania Mountain Bike Continental Series will provide riders from Oceania with a new opportunity to qualify for the UCI Mountain Bike World Cups, part of the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series.

A rider finishing in the top five of an Oceania Mountain Bike Continental Series event will earn a golden ticket and be eligible to participate in a round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.

The top five riders in the overall standings of the Oceania Mountain Bike Continental Series will have the right to participate in all rounds of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in the following season.

The series will also enhance the level of mountain bike events in Oceania and serve as a building block for further growth.

The inaugural Oceania Mountain Bike Continental Series will see three rounds for Cross-country and five rounds for Downhill across Australia and New Zealand, between January and May 2025.

Picture: UCI

Oceania Cycling Confederation President and UCI Management Committee Member Tony Mitchell said the new series would serve as a "new platform for the continued growth of mountain biking in our region".

"The new Continental Series provides an important opportunity riders to earn qualification for the UCI MTB World Cups and go on to compete at the top levels of the sport," he said.

"Oceania riders are regulars on the podium at the UCI MTB World Cup and World Championships and we hope to see more riders competing having qualified through the Oceania Mountain Bike Continental Series."

"In future years we hope to see the series expand to include our Member Nations in the Pacific as we work to continue to grow the sport across Oceania."

"The OCC Executive extends its thanks to the UCI, AusCycling and Cycling New Zealand and MTB New Zealand, as well as event organisers for supporting the series."

Cross-country calendar

Round 1: 11 January 2025 - MTB New Zealand National Series, Dunedin, New Zealand

Round 2: 1 March 2025 - AusCycling National MTB Series, Canberra, Australia

Round 3: 2 March 2025 - AusCycling National MTB Series, Canberra, Australia

Downhill calendar

Round 1: 19 January 2025 - MTB New Zealand National Series, Coronet Peak, New Zealand

Round 2: 14-16 February 2025 - Crankworx Summer Series, Christchurch, New Zealand

Round 3: 1-2 March 2025 - AusCycling National MTB Series, Canberra, Australia

Round 4: 5-9 March 2025 - Crankworx Rotorua, Rotorua, New Zealand

Round 5: 21-25 May 2025 - Crankworx Cairns, Cairns, Australia