Olympian sets new goal

Olympic Games mountainbiker Karen Hanlen is one of the early entries for November's Genesis Energy Lake Waikaremoana Challenge, a reworked version of the Lake to Lighthouse event.

Ms Hanlen is teaming up with Steve McKinstry and Dan Busch to tackle the spectacular race, which features two days of trail running, mountain biking and lake kayaking around and on Lake Waikaremoana.

"I've never done the race before so I'm really excited," Ms Hanlen said a few days after her Olympic Games race where the physiotherapist and mother of two finished 18th in the women's cross-country event.

"We've been camping up at Lake Waikaremoana before but I don't know the area that well. It should be fun and a good incentive to keep fit once I get home."

The 32-year-old Whakatane cyclist will be competing in the mountain bike stages, but as a former second-place-getter in the individual section of Motu Challenge, she could aim for more in the future.

"I would love to do the whole thing one day when I get the chance to train for it," she said.

Richard and Elina Ussher, who both won all four Lake to Lighthouse individual races, also plan to be back for the Genesis Energy Lake Waikaremoana Challenge, competing as individuals. The top three individual men and women will net a total of $10,000 cash.

"We think the changes are really positive for the race," Mr Ussher said.

"It should be closer racing, more enjoyable and more achievable for people in general. It looks like it has been well thought out and will be nice to spend the whole weekend up in Tuai [where the race will start and finish]."

The Genesis Energy Lake Waikaremoana Challenge will be held on November 17-18. Enter online at www.laketolighthouse.co.nz