Lake Macquarie is poised to host one of the largest sporting events in the city's history, with more than 1000 elite riders rolling in for the 2024 GWM Mountain Bike National Championships.
Kicking off on Tuesday 12 March, the championships include a variety of mountain-biking disciplines, with most competition focused on the challenging trails of Awaba Mountain Bike (MTB) Park.
A carnival atmosphere is also expected at Redhead Beach on Wednesday as competition extends to the Redhead Pump Track for the pump category.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Kay Fraser said the championships, which act as a gateway competition for the Olympic Games and World Championships, would attract Australia's top MTB exponents.
"This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase our city to a national audience," she said.
"The skills these competitors display are matched only by their bravery, and that makes for a very exciting and spectacular event."
Awaba MTB Park has gradually expanded in recent years to become a world-class facility, catering to multiple disciplines including trail riding, cross-country and adaptive.
Trails in Awaba MTB Park will be closed for public use throughout the championships, which run from March 13-17.
Jenkins Road will be closed for public access from Wednesday 13 March until Sunday 17 March, with no access from Becks Road to Mount Faulk Road.
Mount Faulk Road is expected to see significantly increased traffic throughout the championships, with drivers advised to allow for extra travelling time.
