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This Is Proof Gearboxes Can Win Races
Pene's historic finish at NZ national champs
Marc Brodesser
March 03, 2025
RACING
Belt Drives For The Win
Instagram: @tuhoto_ariki
Tuhoto-Ariki Pene just secured what could be the first elite men’s national championship victory on a belt drive and gearbox equipped Zerode downhill bike.
On Sunday, the 23-year-old riding for MS Racing won the 2025 New Zealand DH National Championship title in Rotorua, edging out last year’s champ Lachlan Stevens-McNab by over a second.
Pene’s win is made more impressive when you consider just how fast McNab has been riding lately. In our previous newsletter we discussed his wicked 7 second win over Bernard Kerr at Crankworx.
Photo Credit: Cycling NZ
I was pretty confident in the track, my riding, the environment… everything. I ended up pulling off the top step.
With all the news around gearboxes, Pene’s win is significant as the first high profile race where a gearbox rider has taken 1st place.
Is this proof riders on gearbox bikes can win at elite events like UCI races? The $100K Gates prize is ready to be claimed.
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