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Five days of racing across Rotorua, Taupō and Tokoroa came down to one final stage and the Shimano Volcanic Epic delivered a fitting conclusion under warm, dry conditions. After a week that tested riders across every element, the final stage provided a fast and decisive finish, locking in the overall champions and closing out one of the most dynamic editions of the event to date.  From alpine helicopter drops in the Kaimanawa Ranges, to rain-soaked trails on the Queen Stage, through to high-speed flow in Tokoroa and a fast final day in Rotorua, the 2026 edition of the Volcanic Epic showcased the full spectrum of New Zealand riding. Across all categories, the event delivered not just standout performances at the front, but depth of competition throughout the field. Men’s Overall New Zealand’s Fletcher Adams claimed overall victory in 9:47:30, capping off a dominant week of racing on home soil. American Macky Franklin secured second overall in 10:02:52, with Kieran McPherson rounding out the podium in 10:07:39 after a consistent and composed performance across all five stages. The trio had defined the race throughout the week, with their battle culminating in a final-stage showdown after days of racing together across vastly different conditions. Women’s Overall In the women’s race, Syd Schulz delivered a commanding performance to take the overall win in 12:21:57, backing up her consistency across all stages and conditions. Japan’s Maiha Takemura impressed in her debut international stage race to finish second overall in 12:54:53, while Susannah Lynch secured third in 12:58:00. The Teams The teams competition delivered tight racing across all categories throughout the week. In the men’s division, Team Velovault took the overall win in 11:13:01, ahead of Team Spin Doctors and Team Iride. In the women’s category, Team Pure Sports Nutrition claimed victory in 12:35:32, with Team Decade Difference and Team Art Fetiche Racing completing the podium. The mixed category saw one of the most competitive battles of the event, with Team Shell Pacific Nouvelle Calédonie taking the win in 13:13:54. Team Froth secured second in 13:54:45, holding off Team Taranaki Tomtits, who finished third in 14:00:50 after a tightly contested race throughout the week. FINAL GENERAL CLASSIFICATION RESULTS
MEN – SOLO
E-BIKE - SOLO
WOMEN – SOLO
PAIRS – MEN
PAIRS – WOMEN
PAIRS – MIXED
Full results can be found here Photos: Clint Trahan |
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