Amid the high-speed drama of the Crankworx Rotorua Pump Track Challenge, local favourite Tuhoto-Ariki Pene (Tūhourangi, Ngāti Wāhiao, Ngāti Tarāwhai) fought his way to a hard-earned bronze medal on a course running in prime condition.
The former King of Crankworx and Rotorua native was one of the central figures in the men’s showdown, which pitched local legends against a field of international heavyweights. Pene advanced through the early rounds but ultimately met his match in the decisive semifinal against Australia’s dominant force, Ryan Gilchrist. Pene fell to Gilchrist by a 1.714-second margin, an advantage that secured the Australian’s spot in the gold medal match.
Undeterred, Pene refocused for the small final, where he faced fellow Rotorua local Dan Butterworth in a battle for the bronze. In front of a home crowd firmly behind him, Pene delivered a commanding performance, finishing with a 0.852-second advantage over Butterworth. His victory secured the third step on the podium, adding another Crankworx medal to his career tally and delighting his local fans.
Williams Secures Spot in Women’s Competition
The women’s field also saw a strong showing from a New Zealand local. In the bronze medal match-up, Rotorua rider Megan Williams edged out Brooke Penny to secure her final spot on the podium. Her strong performance solidified her third-place finish, further proving the depth of world-class mountain bike talent in Rotorua.
Both riders’ podium finishes added to the home nation’s success.
Pump Track Challenge Podium Finishes (NZL Bronze Medalists)
Men’s Podium:
- Ryan GILCHRIST (AUS)
- Josh JOLLY (AUS)
- Tuhoto-Ariki PENE (NZL)
Women’s Podium:
- Sabina KOŠÁRKOVÁ (CZE)
- Laura SMULDERS (NED)
- Megan WILLIAMS (NZL)