The National race circus has kicked off for another year on a wet, drizzly day in Rotorua. There was a bit of carnage on the slightly boggy Rotorua track, including some nasty cases on the finish line jump as the track got wetter.

(A new finish line jump was being used for this race). Despite the wet weather, I think everyone was having a good time, except maybe Sausage Barrett, who rag dolled himself on the rocky straight in the middle of the course and left looking slightly subdued and beaten.
And in other news some people in lycra rode round n round in circles in the forest, but here's what you really want to see - a few photos from the downhill: