Day three of the Shimano Volcanic Epic MTB Stage Race saw 300 riders from around the world take on their biggest day in Taupō. 

The Queen Stage, the most difficult stage of a multi-day race, was a 62km course with 1,495m of climbing. Two days in, riders had to stay focused and on the pedals far more consistently, testing endurance and mental resolve.

At just over 44km and 1,400m in elevation, Stage 1 of the Shimano Volcanic Epic pulled no punches. 300 4 Stage riders, warmed up from yesterday's 10km Prologue, were met by some of the more formidable cross-country trails Rotorua has to offer.

Starting fresh on a beautiful Rotorua afternoon, around 300 4 Stage riders in the Shimano Volcanic Epic MTB Stage Race, presented by Tineli, had their first glimpse of what was in store.

A first taste of Rotorua’s legendary golden dirt, but it’s about to get a whole lot tougher. Sorting the pack, the 10km of singletrack enabled riders to test their legs and gear out, and set their places for tomorrow’s first big day out. 

Pairs and solo riders about to embark on the four day epic warmed up on two big climbs, the smooth trails Apumoana and the forebodingly named Frontal Lobotomy, punctuated by the fast fun flow of newly opened Mahana, and top favourite Eagle Vs Shark trails. 

​The countdown is on for the highly anticipated second edition of the Shimano Volcanic Epic, presented by Tineli, a premier five-day mountain bike stage race set amidst the stunning geothermal landscapes of New Zealand's North Island. From 3- 7 April 2024, riders from across the globe will converge in Rotorua, Taupō, and Tokoroa for an unforgettable adventure across 185 kilometres of epic trails.

Update on ebike categories for future Volcanic Epic. It was the most talked about subject for the 2024 event coming up… no eBike category BUT eBike is back!!.

We’re excited to announce Shimano New Zealand have joined forces with the Volcanic Epic as naming rights sponsor. To celebrate, Shimano are giving one lucky participant an XT Wheelset. Read on to find out how to win...

Ahead of Volcanic Epic 2024's launch, we made the difficult decision to discontinue our ebike category for the event. 

We love ebiking, and appreciate all those who came and made the first edition so special. Combining ebikes and non-ebikes was always going to be an experiment. Globally, it's not common for ebikes to be included in stage race events, but we wanted to give it a shot.

We've made some minor course changes to Stage 1 of the Tineli Volcanic Epic. Read more below.