Cycling: Big field for 100km challenge

The Active Post Taupo to Rotorua 100k Flyer returns tomorrow. Pictured is Rotorua's Ben McHale, front, racing last year. Photo / Stephen Parker

Auckland's Native Valley cycling team will return to defend their title at the Active Post Taupo to Rotorua 100k Flyer.

More than 1000 cyclists are expected on the start line tomorrow for the annual 100km event, which begins in Taupo and finishes on Fenton St in Rotorua.

Native Valley's Nick Bain won the race last year ahead of Rotorua's Sam Phipps. While neither rider is returning this year, Native Valley will be bringing a team down to try to defend their title.

Auckland's Sam Lindsay, who won the race in 2013, will be racing for the team alongside the likes of John Newman-Watt and Matthew Markby, who finished third last year.

Flying the flag for Rotorua will be the likes of local doctor Ben McHale.

In the women's field, 2013 winner Jenny Wood (Auckland) will be challenged by Olympian triathlete Sam Warriner of Taupo. Warriner is in training for the Rarotonga International Triathlon in three weeks.

Event Promotions, who organise the event, marketing manager Charlotte Pearson said the race was in its 15th year and was popular.

"It is special in that it is 100km and being from one tourist town to another it makes it quite special for people to enter," she said.

She said many entries came from across the North Island such as Auckland, Palmerston North and Wellington.

The course for tomorrow's race will start next to the Taupo Events Centre and riders will make their way along Broadlands Rd, through the Reporoa countryside, onto the Thermal Explorer Highway before turning onto Tumunui Rd and looping through Waikite Valley finishing on Fenton St in central Rotorua.

The main race starts at 9.30am while riders expecting to take over four-and-a-half hours will start at 8.30am.

•Online entries have closed for the event but late entries will be accepted at registration at the Taupo Events Centre today between 5pm and 8pm, and tomorrow between 7am and 9am. For more information go to www.eventpromotions.co.nz