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Natural Selection Bike Aotearoa: Athlete Lineup Unveiled with One Month to Go

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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.

Today (January 15th) marks one month to go until Natural Selection Bike, which 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 includes 22 athletes from nine countries, including the 13 prequalified riders announced in December. New Zealander Robin Goomes is the big addition to the roster for Kiwi fans. The Chatham Islands/Rotorua rider had a breakthrough year in 2024, winning Red Bull Rampage to cement her status as the best female rider on the planet.

“I’m so excited to be competing at Natural Selection Bike,” said Goomes.

“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’s going to be an unreal competition.”
The competition 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.

The full athlete roster is:

 

MEN
• Dylan Stark USA
• Bienvenido Aguado SPA
• Carson Storch USA
• Nicholi Rogatkin USA
• Thomas Genon BEL
• Reed Boggs USA
• Johny Salido MEX
• Kurtis Downs USA
• Adolf Silva SPA
• Kade Edwards GBR
• Paul Couderc FRA
• Szymon Godziek POL
• Talus Turk USA
• Tom Isted GBR

WOMEN
• Cami Nogueira ARG
• Casey Brown CAN
• Vinny Armstrong NZL
• Vaea Verbeeck CAN
• Barb Edwards USA
• Georgia Astle CAN
• Hannah Bergemann USA
• Robin Goomes NZL

Event Director Sophie Luther says they’re thrilled to have such a strong athlete lineup for the inaugural event.
“Natural Selection Bike will be one of the most exciting and progressive mountain bike events globally in 2025,” said Luther.

“We are bringing together 26 of the very top professional Freeriders from around the world, including an additional four Kiwi riders that will qualify through Dream Track on February 8. These riders, men and women, will soar through this all-new venue for a shot to be crowned the Natural Selection Tour champions.
“The Elevate Trail Building team has done an amazing job to maximize the natural mountain bike-ready features on stunning Mt. Dewar. Between the innovative course that blends all aspects of freeriding into one run and the level of riders competing here, this will be a thrilling experience for bikers and non-bikers alike. The event space is limited and will sell out, so we’re urging fans to get their tickets now.”

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.
The event will also include a ‘Dream Ticket’ qualifier at the world-famous Dream Track in central Queenstown on February 7th. The qualifier will give local talent the opportunity to compete for four extra spots at the main event, bringing the final competitor count up to 26 athletes on Saturday, February 15th.

Natural Selection Bike is a sustainable event, with the competition aiming to be New Zealand’s leading ultralow emission sporting initiative.
Natural Selection Bike Aotearoa is being supported by the New Zealand Government through its Major Event Fund and will showcase New Zealand as a world class mountain bike destination through the global broadcast.
Watch the competition live, in person, with tickets on sale here through Flicket. www.naturalselectionbike.flicket.co.nz The competition will broadcast “as live” on YouTube and Red Bull TV starting on March 5, 2025.

About the Natural Selection Tour
The brainchild of pro snowboarder Travis Rice, the Natural Selection Tour showcases the world’s top athletes competing in the planet’s most exciting environments.
The Tour debuted in 2021 with snowboarding and has now expanded to incorporate ski, surf and bike. Athletes are judged on creativity, risk, execution, difficulty, and overall impression.
NaturalSelectionTour.com
@naturalselectionbike

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