WITH just over 90 minutes of riding ahead of them down the Nga Ara Tuhono cycle trail yesterday, a number of the North Islander racers in the Tour of New Zealand were starting to feel it as they reached Wanganui yesterday.
Two races are under way simultaneously as 240 NewZealanders and 75 international competitors have split into North and South Island tour groups, having departed Cape Reinga and Bluff respectively last Saturday.
They will converge on Parliament in Wellington tomorrow for the final head-to-head race. Starting from Chateau Tongariro, the cyclists covered around 135km down the cycle trail to reach town stopping at the Whanganui Multisport and Triathlon Club shed on Anzac Parade.
The first three riders emerged at the River Rd turnoff, north of Upokongaro, at 2.41pm, followed by the two bunches around 10 minutes later.
Today, the tour continues from Palmerston North to Masterton, before heading to Wellington for the final leg tomorrow morning.
