Enthusiasts, riders and supporters gear up for the 46th anniversary of Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge on Saturday.
Enthusiasts, riders and supporters gear up for the 46th anniversary of Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge on Saturday.
Excitement is building around Lake Taupō as enthusiasts, riders and supporters gear up for the 46th anniversary of the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge on Saturday.
Back in 1977, 26 avid cyclists took to the start line for the very first Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge and to circumnavigate the lake. Now,46 years later, the iconic event is still going strong, with thousands of riders set to take on one of eight event categories this weekend, 47 of whom will ride around the “Great Lake” twice.
Joining the category line-up this year is the newest challenge to hit the endurance calendar – the Tineli Huka Hundy. The course takes in some of the best mountain bike tracks in the country, winding in and out of pine forests, through beautiful native bush and providing epic views over Lake Taupō.
It’s not too late to be a part of this exhilarating event. There’s still time to register. Offering an impressive array of categories and course lengths catering to all abilities – from sealed roads to gravel and mountain biking – there’s an event suited for everyone, from the young to the seasoned cyclist and the enthusiastic supporter.
Olympian Bryony Botha who, with her teammates, secured a Silver medal in the Women’s Team Pursuit at the recent Paris Olympics, will be lining up on the start line this year. She’ll be joined by other ambassadors including Paracyclist Nick Blincoe and NZ icon Ian Jones.
Enthusiasts, riders, and supporters gear up for the 46th anniversary of Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge on Saturday.
Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge legends Nicky and Ross Owen are ticking over their 26th ride in the annual event along with Colin Anderson, who completed his 100th lap of the lake in 2019 and is back for more taking on the two-lap Enduro.
Following in the footsteps of the 2023 event, the start and finish lines are back to Tongariro St bringing the action even closer to the CBD with the event village to be located on Tongariro North Domain.
Cycling enthusiasts of all ages and stages are catered for with New Zealand’s largest cycling expo taking place on Friday, November 29, and a special track just for the little ones will be open for riding fun on Saturday and Sunday.
Whether taking part, cheering from the sideline or enjoying the vibrancy of the Event Village, the event’s 46th running is sure to be a memorable one for everyone.
