Blake Vella, Paul Taylor, Ian Charteris and Darrall Castle after finishing day one of the Tour of Northland in Dargaville.
Blake Vella, Paul Taylor, Ian Charteris and Darrall Castle after finishing day one of the Tour of Northland in Dargaville.
Local cyclist Matthew Markby came second among about 500 competitors in the first leg of their four-day BDO Tour of Northland that started in Whangarei yesterday morning.
The 14th addition of the event saw cyclists from as far away as Australia, split into five groups based on their ability.
Theyset off from Whangarei at 10am for Dargaville.
Dynamo Events director Stephen Cox said the challenge started on time and the first lot of cyclists arrived into Dargaville via the Twin Coast Discovery Trail about 12.30pm yesterday.
Nick Bain and Roman Van Uden, both from Auckland, arrived first and third respectively.
The riders had time to catch up after yesterday's race as well as to prepare for the next phase of their 85km journey from Dargaville to Opononi this morning.
Tomorrow the cyclists will head to Paihia and return to Whangarei from Russell on Sunday.
Mr Cox said most of the cyclists were from Hamilton north while some had travelled from Wellington, Christchurch and Australia.
They cycle 80km to 92km each day, said the former New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games cycling representative.
Event organisers hope the weather will be fine heading into the weekend.
Riders will have cycled 340km over the four days.
"Daily distances are achievable," Mr Cox said.
He said the BDO Cycle Challenge was lucky to have the support of many local people and sponsors and without their backing the event would not be possible.
Auckland cyclist Paul Newton gets rid of the aches and pains with the help of masseuse Anna Ewins as the riders gather on the Dargaville village green to catch up at the end of day one of the Tour of Northland.
Cycling tour to force a few delays for motorists
Drivers should expect a few delays as 400-plus cyclists sharing the road at once will obviously cause some minor disruptions.
Race organisers have asked for the support and understanding from other road users during the four-day Tour.
The safety of all road users is paramount and efforts have been made to ensure that there is a trouble free time had by all.
Police road policing manager in Northland Inspector Murray Hodgson said motorists needed to be conscious that there was an increased volume of cyclists on the road and to be patient.
"They [motorists] won't be inconvenienced for too long. They need to drive sensibly and be patient and to recognise that cyclists are entitled to be on the road."
