Bay of Plenty-based event company Event Promotions is bringing a new kind of cycling and running event to Tauranga in October.
The Mills Reef running and cycling festival is the first of its kind for the Tauranga region, based at Mills Reef Winery in Bethlehem. The event will include the Young Read Woudberg 67km road cycle and Bay of Plenty Times 7km fun run/walk.
The unique road course for the road cycle will start from Mills Reef Winery and will complete a 67km loop around the surrounding Tauranga countryside. The circuit will incorporate the new Pyes Pa link road before making the long shallow climb through countryside to the top of the Pyes Pa/Oropi Hills. At the top of the course competitors will be treated to panoramic views of the Kaimais, Tauranga Harbour and Mount Maunganui.
The course will then descend through open countryside and native bush into the outskirts of Tauranga before finishing back at Mills Reef.
Event Promotions operations manager and course designer Michael Kelly said the course offered a little bit of everything.
"It is a traditional training route for a lot of cyclists in the Tauranga region and more recently part of the course through Oropi and Pyes Pa has been used by the Tauranga Cycling Club for their weekly bunch rides.
"The profile is undulating but very achievable for all abilities. It would also be a perfect event to use as build-up for the K2 and Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge events."
The 7km fun run-walk provides an option for those more inclined to fitness activities on two legs instead of two wheels. The run and walk starts and finishes at Mills Reef and follows a one-lap course that winds through surrounding bush and park trails.
