THIS EPISODE of Community Connect, we're catching up with TeamCPNZ athlete Helen Gillespie.

Helen is an athlete who loves a challenge, thrives on adventure, and always makes sure she's having fun along the way. Earlier this year, we shared her Longest Day build-up story on our Kathmandu Coast to Coast podcast (S7E6, published February 8, 2026).

In this episode, we reflect back on that build-up, how race day unfolded, what she's been up to in the seven months since, and her plans to take on the 2027 Kathmandu Coast to Coast.

Helen is an amazing human, and one we felt our community could learn a lot from, which is exactly why we wanted to share her story.

Richard is back with our next podcast in the Whaka 100 2026 series.

In this episode, we sit down with Marewa Sutherland from Pure Sports Nutrition to talk recovery nutrition.

Let's be honest, for most of us, race day "recovery nutrition" is a beer and a burger, lying on the grass at the finish line soaking in a great day out. This episode isn't about that.

Instead, we're digging into how to approach recovery nutrition day-to-day, so you can get the most out of your training week and show up strong for your key sessions. What to eat, when to eat it, and why timing matters, this one will help you dial in your recovery and train smarter, not just harder.

TEAMCPNZ MEDIA

Richard Greer – @ric.greer

https://www.teamcp.co.nz

@teamcpnz

https://www.facebook.com/teamcpnz

WHAKA 100

https://www.whaka100.co.nz/

PURE SPORTS NUTRITION

https://www.puresportsnutrition.com/

We are back with our next podcast in the Whaka 100 2026 series.

We sit down with Amelie Mackay, one of the elites currently making waves in the New Zealand MTB scene.

Amelie has raced on the world cup circuit and is fresh back from competing in Korea at the XCO MTB World Cup. Last year, she came second in the 100km elite category, and this year she's lining up to go one better - aiming to etch her name alongside the who's who of NZ mountain biking from the past 19 years.

TEAMCPNZ MEDIA

Richard Greer – @ric.greer

https://www.teamcp.co.nz

@teamcpnz

https://www.facebook.com/teamcpnz

WHAKA 100

https://www.whaka100.co.nz/

Today in the podcast we are joined by Ric van Wachem, TeamCPNZ athlete based in Adelaide, Australia who recently returned from tackling the Tour Divide which traverses the backroads of America completely self supported. This was Ric’s third crack at the event and the goal was to complete the full 4,345km with 61,000 metres of climbing. Let’s just think about that for a moment - backroads, self-supported, no peloton, and more vert and distance than the Tour de France. Ric shares his story. From the background to his build-up, why he lined up again, and how his adventure unfolded.

This is a story of perseverance and pushing the envelope.

TeamCPNZ are back to our Whaka 100 2026 podcast series.This episode is a good one.

Richard sits down with Andrew Robinson from Tough Yarns and Allegra Battiato to talk about their Whaka100 MTB Marathon® adventure, and it's a story with a twist.

Last year, Allegra was entered in the Whaka 50. Then, two days out from race day, Andrew , one of the event Ambassadors, talked her into moving up to the 100km.

No hesitation, no easing in. Just: go big. Tough Yarns is built on doing hard things and having honest conversations about them, and that's exactly what this episode is. We get into the decision, the doubt, the training that wasn't quite there, and what it actually took to get Allegra from the start line to the finish of one of the toughest days on two wheels.

If you've ever had someone talk you into something bigger than you planned for, you'll want to hear this one.

TEAMCPNZ MEDIA

Richard Greer – @ric.greer

https://www.teamcp.co.nz

@teamcpnz

https://www.facebook.com/teamcpnz

WHAKA 100

https://www.whaka100.co.nz/

Welcome back to the TeamCPNZ podcast, and what a way to kick off the 2026 season.

I'm your host Richard Greer, and in this episode I sit down with Thomas Falconer , a man with some very serious unfinished business at the Whaka100.Thomas came up against the time cuts last year and it clearly lit a fire.

We talk about what went wrong, what's changed, and exactly how he's preparing to make sure this year goes very differently.

I pre-recorded this one yesterday and honestly , of all the interviews I've done over the years, this one was a genuine highlight. The conversation went places I wasn't expecting.

Oh, and stay tuned, because at some point we get into why I may or may not be bringing our pet lambs up to the event this year. Yes, really. You'll want to hear that one for yourself.Let's get into it.

TEAMCPNZ MEDIA

Richard Greer – @ric.greer

https://www.teamcp.co.nz

@teamcpnz

https://www.facebook.com/teamcpnz

WHAKA 100

https://www.whaka100.co.nz/

TEAMCPNZ QUICK CONNECT – ‘STAY INFORMED AND STAY CONNECTED’

Our next TeamCPNZ Community Connect Podcast is a little different—and one we're really excited to share.

This episode, we sit down with Mark from the Alternative Voluntary Collective (AVC), a passionate group of mountain bikers based in Christchurch's Port Hills who have turned their love of riding into something much bigger. What started as maintaining local trails that needed a bit of TLC has grown into designing, building and improving new trails for the whole community to enjoy.

So why are we chatting with Mark?

As we gear up for our TeamCPNZ July Tour de France Challenge, kicking off on 1 July, we wanted this year's challenge to be about more than just chasing kilometres and vertical metres. We wanted to give something back.

This year, proceeds from the challenge will help support the incredible work the AVC does to build and maintain the Port Hills trail network—creating lasting infrastructure that benefits thousands of runners, walkers and riders every year.

Our TeamCPNZ community stretches across New Zealand, Australia and around the globe, but chances are that one day you'll find yourself exploring the Christchurch Port Hills. When you do, you'll know you played a small part in helping create and maintain the trails beneath your feet (or tyres).

Join us for a great conversation with Mark as he shares the story behind the AVC, the work that goes into building world-class trails, and how our community can help make a lasting impact.

🚴 The TeamCPNZ July Tour de France Challenge starts 1 July!

Find out more and sign up here:
https://www.teamcp.co.nz/whats-on/teamcpnz-july-tdf-challenge/

And the AVC : @Alternative_Vollie Collective

Ride. Climb. Challenge yourself. And help build the trails of tomorrow.

CPNZ MEDIA

Richard Greer – @ric.greer

https://www.teamcp.co.nz

@teamcpnz

https://www.facebook.com/teamcpnz

TEAMCPNZ QUICK CONNECT – ‘STAY INFORMED AND STAY CONNECTED’

Today we're joined by someone who truly embodies the spirit of adventure - Joe Nation.

Joe is an incredible athlete who is helping push the boundaries of the rapidly growing world of ultra bikepacking racing. Recently named a Giant Bikes Ambassador, Joe has spent the last few years taking on some of the toughest self-supported endurance races on the planet, where athletes ride thousands of kilometres solo, managing their own navigation, food, sleep and every challenge that comes their way, all in a race against the clock.

In this episode we chat about Joe's journey from racing the Enduro World Series through to his outstanding third-place finish in the 4,500km Tour Divide from Alberta, Canada to the US-Mexico border. We also dive into his incredible victory at the legendary 2,000km Silk Road Mountain Race in Kyrgyzstan, featuring an astonishing 30,000 metres of climbing through some of the world's most spectacular alpine terrain.

Closer to home, Joe has also been creating his own adventures, including setting a Fastest Known Time on the Kahurangi 500 - an epic loop taking in the Heaphy Track, Old Ghost Road, Tākaka and Murchison.

Be sure to check Joe out on social media, and especially subscribe to his YouTube channel where he documents these incredible adventures with some fantastic storytelling and cinematography. At the end of this episode we also chat about his latest mission - an adventurous crossing to the West Coast via Browning Pass, south of Arthur's Pass. You can watch how it all unfolded in his latest film, "No Country for Bikes."

So, settle in and enjoy this inspiring conversation with Joe Nation. If you've ever dreamed of your next big adventure, this episode might just be the motivation you've been looking for.

CPNZ MEDIA

Richard Greer – @ric.greer

https://www.teamcp.co.nz

@teamcpnz

https://www.facebook.com/teamcpnz

TEAMCPNZ QUICK CONNECT - ‘STAY INFORMED AND STAY CONNECTED’

In this episode, we catch up with Alejandro Escobar, who recently completed an incredible adventure in the Scottish Highlands, running the West Highland Way over five days before taking on the climb of Ben Nevis on day six.

Alejandro has been part of our community for more than four years. Like many of our athletes from around the globe, we first got to know him when he signed up for the two-day individual event at the Coast to Coast. Since then, he has returned to complete the Longest Day and also ticked off the Kepler Challenge late last year.

We chat about what it was like to run through the Scottish Highlands across multiple days, the challenges and highlights of the journey, and a few other memorable adventure races and missions he has completed along the way.

CPNZ MEDIA

Richard Greer – @ric.greer

https://www.teamcp.co.nz

@teamcpnz

https://www.facebook.com/teamcpnz

TEAMCPNZ QUICK CONNECT EP 63 – May Metres Special – ‘STAY INFORMED AND STAY CONNECTED’

Welcome to our recap of our May Metres challenge. It has been an awesome month with over 60 people signing up and getting involved with the goal of seeing how many vertical metres you could climb over the month.

Today we chat to the top three finishers, Shiraz Mullholand, Craig Moore and Mat Gordon to hear their stories, how they made it work and what they learnt. We also share a number of special mentions from an epic month of climbing.

Well done to everyone who got involved and thanks for being part of our Team.