Peta Mullens and Tasman Nankervis score elite wins in Golden Triangle Epic

The star pair claimed honours in their respective elite women's and men's 100 kilometre classes of the Golden Triangle Epic mountain bike race on Saturday.

Mullens finished more than two minutes ahead of her nearest rival, New Zealand visitor Samara Sheppard, winning in a time of five hours, one minute and 19 seconds.

Sheppard was second in 5:03.01, ahead of former Australian representative Melissa Ansett (5:10.00).

It was back-to-back wins for Mullens, who a week earlier claimed the Australian Marathon Championships title in the north east Tasmanian town of Derby.

That was the second time the Bendigo rider has taken out the Mountain Bike Australia XCM National title, her previous one in 2012.

Nankervis' Epic win followed his second placing in Tasmania the previous weekend.

The Strathfieldsaye rider completed the 100km event inn a time of 4:17.46, two minutes and two seconds ahead of Australian 2016 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships representative Chris Jongewaard.

Wollongong's Kyle Ward was third in 4:20.55.

Honours in the 150km ultimate enduro went to Tobias Lesterall (6:53.43) and Jessica Douglas (8:27.10).

Bendigo Mountain Bike Club president Rim Martin said it was great to see Mullens and Nankervis flying the flag for the locals, not only in the Epic, but also on the national stage.

"That's fantastic for us that we get some homegrown talent winning in our backyard," he said.

"They both doing very well at the moment.

"What's pleasing is we have been getting some very good feedback from some of the other competitors, who are saying it seemed to be a very professionally run event."

More than 530 competitors tackled the Spring Gully course over five distances, ranging from 15 to 150 kilometres.

That represented a nearly 25 per cent increase on last year's field.

Martin said about 50 per-cent of the field was likely out-of-towners.

"One of the things we are really about as a club is it's a balance for us a club," he said.

"We can attract elite riders and get a great field in that (class), but we also attract a lot of recreational riders.

"The event still has a 'club-run', quite a relaxed feel.

"It's great to see the elite riders, but I get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing parents being able top ride with their kids in a race.

"There are few very large races where you can do that."

Attention for Bendigo Mountain Bike Club members will now turn to the Central Goldfields winter series.