Record-breaking finishes at Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge

The podium finishers from the Women's Classic event at 40th Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge today. Photo/ Steve Knowles.

It was fast and furious and record-breaking in the men's and women's elite races in the 40th Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge today.

A highlight was a thrilling sprint finish in the women's classic with milliseconds separated the fast-paced 100km women's classic road race between Turangi and Taupo with all three podium finishers crossing the line at 2.41.03.

Knocking seconds off her 2015 win, recent Olympian Racquel Sheath (2h 41m 03s 56ms) defended her title against Palmerston North woman Michaela Drummond (2h 41m 03.57ms) in second. And Karen Fulton from Richmond finished in third (2h 41m 03s 83ms).

Auckland woman Ruby Livingstone took out the sprint award with Natalie Kerwin from Napier, taking the hill climb honours.

Cambridge man and Commonwealth Game bronze medallist Aaron Gate won the Holden men's classic 160km race in 3h 39m 38s 91ms, taking seconds off his 2015 second-place effort.

Second and third places also went to Cambridge cyclists in an exciting sprint finish with Regan Gough second (3h 40m 11s 35ms) and Michael Torkler third (3h 40m 11s 48ms).

In a day of tight finishes, less than a second separated the first and second place getters in the Huka XL 85km men's mountain bike event.

Lower Hutt's Edwin Crossling took first place in 3h 49m 08s 02ms and Henry Jaine from Nelson a very close second (3h 49m 09s 07ms) with Rotorua man, Sam Shaw third (3h 56m 06.30s).

The winner in the women's Huka XL 85km mountain bike race was Kim Hurst from Upper Hutt (4h 29m 51s 90ms) with Australian Karen Hill second (4h 35m 43s 82ms) and Reta Trotman from Christchurch third (4h 55m 06s 82ms).

100 riders left at 1.30am this morning to complete two laps of the lake in the Enduro event while another 24 are riding around Lake Taupo four times.

"It's fantastic to experience the energy and excitement of my first cycle challenge as event director," says Aaron Carter.

"Seeing the mass of colour and cyclists all the way down Tongariro Street to the lake was a sensational start to celebrate the event's 40th anniversary."

For full set of 2016 Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge results visit www.thetimingteam.co.nz.

2016 Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge results:

Holden Men's Classic (160km): 1. Aaron Gate (Cambridge) 3h 39m 38s; 2. Regan Gough (Cambridge) 3h 40m 11s; 3. Michael Torckler (Cambridge) 3h 40m 11s.

Women's Classic (100km): 1. Racquel Sheath (Cambridge) 2h 41m 03s; 2. Michaela Drummond (Palmerston North)2h 41m 03s; 3.Karen Fulton (Richmond) 2h 41m 03s.

Huka XL (85km): Men's: 1. Edwin Crossling (Lower Hutt)3h 49m 08s; 2. Henry Jaine (Nelson) 3h 49m 09s; Sam Shaw (Rotorua)3h 56m 06s.
Women's: 1. Kim Hurst (Upper Hutt)4h 29m 51s; 2. Karen Hill (Tarwin Lower) 4h 35m 43s; 3. Reta Trotman (Christchurch)4h 55m 06s.

Round the Lake (160km): Men's: 1. Luke Verschaffelt (Cambridge) 3h 59m 36s; 2. Logan Holzer (Cambridge) 3h 59m 39s; 3. Bryce Shapley (Rotorua) 3h 59m 41s.
Women's: 1. Kate Mcilroy (Wellington) 3h 59m 48s; 2. Alice Chaplin (Auckland)4h 13m 48s; 3. Louise Delaney (Auckland) 4h 14m 10s.