In the past 12 years, Alastair Borwick has never missed the Cranleigh K2 road cycling event, renowned as New Zealand's toughest road cycling event. It is a 200km ride, which combines 2300m of climbing and superb surroundings to produce a European-style cycling challenge, a favourite amongst elite and recreational riders
Doctor's winning tonic: New Zealand's toughest road cycling event
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There's nothing like a 200km cycle around picturesque, sunny Coromandel.
It is known as New Zealand's toughest road cycling event; what makes it so tough?
K2 offers you everything - it's quite long, has lots of hills and you can expect playful sea breezes. If you ride really hard early you may suffer a poor performance later, so it's a good personal test. If you don't eat enough food during the event, it gets very tough.
How much have you been training and what is your goal for this year's race?
This year I've focused on recovery and [hopefully] performance follows. I have done fewer hours than other years as I'm getting older. If you're fresher, you can train better and smarter. I'm riding two laps this year starting on Friday night and hope to get home on lap two before the K2 winner, so shortly after noon. Boy, do I enjoy going to the supermarket [after a big ride].
What do you love about cycling?
You've seen a car drive past with a dog poking its head out the window and what does his face tell you? On a bike, your pace is largely due to your own effort. It's very satisfying and an hour of cycling in the morning energises you for the whole day. It's a great social sport, too, from the shared effort of riding close to other cyclists ... to the coffee afterwards.
What is it like to mix with the elite riders at the event?
In this sport you can use a similar gear to the very best athletes and tackle the same course. If you ride with elite athletes, you either pull your weight or get right out of the way. They're mostly friendly folk who make a sacrifice to work extremely hard over many years to be as good as they are; you have to respect that. I have found them accepting of anyone who tackles the same course.
What advice do you offer newcomers to this event?
Get enough training rides in and follow a programme but be well recovered for at least a couple of weeks before the event. Focus on eating, conserving energy and enjoy your day. The feeling on completion, as your body relaxes is one of life's peak sensations. So when it really hurts and you think you're done, stick with it and ride easily for a bit, eat and drink until someone else rides along, you do recover and feel better again.
Coromandel sojourn
What: Cranleigh K2 road cycling event.
When: Saturday, November 1.
Where: Coromandel Peninsula.
What: A gruelling 200km road cycling event that includes 2300m of climbing and stunning scenery.
For more information visit: www.arcevents.co.nz