Mountain bikers from across the country will test their mettle on the slopes of Mt Stromlo this weekend as part of the Australian Mountain Biking Series.
Stromlo Forest Park will host rounds of the downhill Gravity Cup and the Four Cross Cup - for national four cross competitors.
Downhillers competing in the Gravity Cup will tackle a challenging course down the side of Mt Stromlo, with the fastest rider from top to bottom declared the winner.
Four cross involves four competitors racing each other on an oversized BMX track down the lower slopes of the mountain.
The downhill event has attracted a quality field, which includes series leader Troy Brosnan, three-time world champion Sam Hill and Canberra's Ben Cory, who is fourth in the series standings.
Brosnan, a two-time junior world champion, has started his step up to the elite level brilliantly, beating more experienced rivals to take out g both races in the series so far.
Hill, who claimed the elite world title in 2006, 2007 and 2010 is determined to upgrade his second places to Brosnan at Mt Buller and Thredbo to the top spot on the podium in Canberra.
Despite his two runner-up finishes, Hill said he was still well placed for the start of the World Cup season in March.
''I've just been using these races as a warm-up into the World Cup season just to get a bit stronger and a bit more race fit as they go on,'' he said.
Stromlo will offer a fresh challenge for the riders with rain leaving conditions wet and slow.
''It is different to the other tracks we ride, it is little bit more pedally and does not quite have as much elevation,'' Hill said.
This is the third leg in the series with the final race to be held near Newcastle in March.
The four cross and seeding for the Gravity Cup will run today, with the downhill race tomorrow.
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