Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge 2019 – There’s Still Time To Enter!

The summer cycling season is slowly but surely coming to an end in the northern hemisphere, and if you cannot bear the thought of packing your bike away and heading to spinning classes for the next three to four months, why not head on down to New Zealand and take part in the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge!

Image rights: cyclechallenge.com

As New Zealand’s Premier Cycling Event, the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge is something every cyclists should tick off their Bucket List, and as it takes place at the end of November each year, it is the perfect end of season race for Europeans who are not ready to head indoors.

The Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge is not only one of New Zealand’s most established events, it’s one of its largest. It attracts some 6,000 riders each year, which is not huge when you to compare it to other international sportives such as the Cape Town Cycle Tour, but it is sizable and suitable for all ages and abilities.

In November 2019, the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge will celebrate its 43^rd year, and if you love the idea of cycling New Zealand and taking part in this auspicious event, you’ll be pleased to know that you still have time to enter!

Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge: The Events

So much more than a one-day, one-race event, the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge offers something for everyone. There are road bike races, mountain bike races, elite races, family rides, and even team challenges. Here’s an overview of each:

Road Bike Events

• Bike Barn Around The Lake 160km: The most popular event, it includes a single lap around Lake Taupo.
• Half The Lake 75km: If 160km is out of your comfort zone, you can do half the lake instead!
• Quarter Lake 40km: An easy-peasy ride along the banks of the lake.
• Enduro 320km: 160km not enough? Then ride around Australasia’s largest lake twice!
• Maxi Enduro 640km: Or indeed four times, who’s counting?

Mountain Bike Events

• BDO Huka Challenge 82km: A hardcore event for hardcore bikers.
• BDO Huka Steamer 60km: Still tough, but doable if you have been training hard this year.
• BDO Huka Teaser 31km: Explore the picturesque trails around the Waikato River on this easy-ish ride.

Family Rides

• Lakeside 16km: Ideal for families and recreational cyclists, this off-road course is relatively flat and very scenic. MTB and cross bikes only. Not suitable for road bikes.
• Kids Heart Ride 5km: A charitable ride for kids up to 10-years-old.

Elite Events

• Holdens Men’s Classic 160km: One lap around Lake Taupo. Open to licensed riders only.
• Bayleys Women’s Classic 100km: Open to licensed elite women riders only.
• BDO Huka XL 82km: The MTB race for elites.

Team / Group Challenges

Lake Taupo Group Cycle Challenges are available teams of four riders. The following events are available:

• Bike Barn Round the Lake
• Half the Lake
• Quarter Lake
• BDO Huka Challenge
• BDO Huka Steamer
• BDO Huka Teaser

Of course, New Zealand is a long way to go for a one-day sportive, but with two great islands to explore, you can easily spend two or three weeks exploring this cycle-friendly country. So what you are waiting for? Book the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge today!

Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge New Zealand 2018: Entries Now Open!

How far would you be willing to travel to participate in a one day international cycling sportive? Well, if like the rest of us, you would go to the end of the earth to cycle an amazing route, the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge in New Zealand could be the perfect choice for your winter cycling holiday!

An award-winning cycling event that celebrates its 42^nd year in 2018, the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge attracts some 7,000 riders from across the globe who flock to New Zealand’s North Island year after year to take part in one of 5 main road bike categories. NZ’s largest cycling event also offers a selection of challenges for off-road cyclists, elites, and groups, and there’s even kiddie rides, so the whole family can join in.

The most popular route by far is the ‘Bike Barn Around the Lake’, which is a single lap, 160km circumnavigation of Lake Taupo. Offering spectacular scenery, it really is one of the most beautiful rides in all New Zealand, and while the event is deemed ‘suitable for all abilities’ you need to be in good shape if you are to compete with the pros, who finish in less than 4 hours.

If 160km with +/- 300m elevation doesn’t sound like much of challenge to you, then you’ll be pleased to know that there is more on offer. The 320km Enduro will see you cycling around New Zealand’s largest lake twice, while the 640km Maxi Enduro will see you spinning around the lake a whopping four times, but it is an official qualifying ride for the Race Across America, so if you are thinking of taking part in the “World’s Toughest Cycle Race” in 2019 – this could be the perfect warm up!

Of course, New Zealand is a long way to go for a one-day sportive, and so most international entrants combine the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge with a self-drive holiday visiting both the North and South Islands. The good news is, New Zealand was made for cycling holidays, so you can rent bikes and bike racks on one island and leave them on the other.

Where will your next cycling adventure take you?