Armidale is fast becoming one of the most popular venues for elite mountain bike events and last weekend was no different.
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A National Cup tier one event was held at the University of New England's mountain bike course on Saturday and Sunday with competitors coming from all over the state and Queensland.
The National Cup is a new concept for Mountain Bike Australia and replaces the National Series, which Armidale played host to in 2017.
Saturday saw a short course criterium event with a number of local riders among the winners. Katherine Hosking took out the elite women's, Inverell's Jody Mayled won the Masters 1/ 2 women, Tamworth's Alyssa Rogan came first in the Masters 3/ 4 while Jo Wauch claimed the Masters 7+ women and Olive Tutt came second in the under 17s.
The elite men's division was won by a Queensland visitor in Nick Pedler with Glenbrook's Luke Brame in second. Armidale's Ted Chick won the under 13 division, Tamworth's Eddie Willis took out the under 15s with Dorrigo's Fraser McQueen coming in ninth.
Inverell's Peter Horwood won the Masters 3/ 4 men.
While the Saturday short course events suited the speediest riders, Sunday's Cross Country Olympic event tested their endurance.
There were some of the usual suspects taking out their divisions but New England Mountain Bikers president Peter Hosking highlighted the win by Armidale's Olive Tutt in the under 17 women.
"It was a very technical course, we were trying to hold a national round so we actually put a very technical course on," he said.
"Everything from a choice of lines, protecting your bikes so there were quite a few flat tires and bits and pieces.
"She [Tutt] managed to hold it together very well and got the podium in the under 17 XCO on Sunday."
In the elite men's Brame and Pedler swapped places with the Blue Mountains native finishing first.
Horwood backed his Saturday win up with another triumph on Sunday and Armidale's Andrew Whitehill came in third.
Katherine Hosking also made it back-to-back wins in the elite women while sister Isabella came second in the junior women.
Emily Wooster also made the podium in the junior women, finishing third, with Emily Meehan in fourth.
Mayled claimed the Masters 1/ 2 and Rogan also took out the Masters 3 / 4, Wauch added her second win for the weekend in the Masters 7+.
Chick triumphed in the under 13s, Dorrigo's John McQueen finished second in the Masters 5/6 men and Willis was second in the under 15 men.
More mountain biking action is set for the ergion in the future with Armidale securing the rights to host the 2020 24 hour World Endurance Mountain Bike Organisation championships.