Sizzling Record-Breaking Finishes at Lake Taupo

Sizzling Record-Breaking Finishes at Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge

It was fast and furious and record-breaking in the men’s and women’s elite races in the 40th Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge with a thrilling sprint finish in the Women’s Classic, creating exciting spectator action.

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 (2:41:03:56) defended her title against Palmerston North woman Michaela Drummond (2.41.03.57) second and Karen Fulton from Richmond third (2:41.03.83). 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 took out the Holden Men’s Classic 160km race in 3.39.38.91, 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 (3:40.11.35) and Michael Torkler third (3.40.11.48).

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 man Edwin Crossling took first place in 3:49.08.02 and Henry Jaine from Nelson a very close second (3.49.09.07) with Rotorua man, Sam Shaw third (3.56.06.30).

The winner in the women’s Huka XL 85km mountain bike race was Kim Hurst from Upper Hutt (4:29.51.90) with Australian Karen Hill second (4:35:43.82) and Reta Trotman from Christchurch third (4:55.06.82).

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.”

Ends.

ABOUT LAKE TAUPO CYCLE CHALLENGE
The Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge is NZ’s largest cycling event. Around 7,000 riders from across New Zealand and 23 countries across the globe participate each year – 308 from Australia. Our youngest riders are two years old and the oldest is 90.

The first organized ride around Lake Taupo was in 1977 when local schoolteacher, Walter de Bont gathered 25 others to ride with him to raise funds for what was then the local IHC charity. Walter, who was event patron sadly passed away in October this year.

Since that first ride the event has seen nearly 200,000 riders take part, and has provided $3.4million of donations to community groups, along with raising more than $700,000 for Heart Kids with their involvement as the official charity since 2006.

The Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge is best known for its 160-km Round The Lake ride, a one-lap circumnavigation of Lake Taupo, but this is just one of the 14 categories on offer with road cycling and mountain bike options for individuals and groups, catering to all levels of cycling and fitness abilities, including young children who ride the 5km Kids Heart Ride.

NZ’s premier bike event is held on the last Saturday in November and there are plenty of prestigious spot prizes on offer.

© Scoop Media