Blazing Record-Breaking Finishes at Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge
There are records set and spectators had the thrill of exciting sprint finishes today at the 41st Lake Taupo Cycle
Challenge.
It was heads down and riders were pumping it at the end of the fast-paced 100km Bayleys Women’s Classic Elite Race with
Australian rider, Matilda Raynolds from Port Melbourne in first place and all three podium finishers crossing the line
at 2.47.13. Hokitika rider Sharlotte Lucas came second and Tauranga’s Laura Jorgensen third.
Rylee McMullen (Auckland) took out the sprint award and hill climb honours. It’s the first year that the elite women
will receive the same prize money as their male elite counterparts.
Following his win at Friday night’s Criterium Sam Gaze (Cambridge) was first in the 160km Holden Men’s Classic Elite
Race breaking the course record in 3:37:51 set in 2016 by Aaron Gate (3:39:08). Second was fellow Cambridge cyclist Josh
Lane and third, Frank Sutton (Hamilton).
In a day of records breaking, Roman van Uden took an impressive two hours off the Maxi Enduro event with four laps
around Lake Taupo in 20.30.22. Thomas Lindrup had the previous record 22.28.
Sam Shaw (Rotorua) blitzed his own time in the Huka XL 85km men’s mountain bike event (3:45:01) taking 11 minutes off
his 2016 third place ride. Second was Glenn Haden (3:46:26) and a tight third, Henry Jaine (3:46:27).
The winner in the women’s Huka XL 85km mountain bike race was Josie Wilcox (4:22:26) Jeanette Gerrie (4:43:03) and Emma
McCosh third, (4:43:23).
Darryl Strachan set off at 1.30am this morning to ride the two-lap Enduro event, completing it in 9:43:49. The first
female home was Joanna Sharpe, 10.11.20.
First place in the Bike Barn Round the Lake 160km ride was Craig Galbraith (3:41:44) and first female Robyn Tavendale
(4:12.29).
“It’s a fantastic event that just keeps getting better to experience the energy and excitement of cycle challenge,” says
Event Director Aaron Carter.
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 made 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.