LAKE TAUPO CYCLE CHALLENGE - THE CONTACT HUKA CHALLENGE 2009

2009 Course

The course will be much the same but we will have new single tracks replacing old tracks that have gone to the grave yard. And new tracks that have come from the skunk works. The course may be a bit longer ( told it should be 80Km) but one thing we will guarantee is it will not be easy and will have more single track than last year, and still live up to it standing as the hardest mountain bike race in NZ Mountainbikers will start on Tongariro Street with the solo cycle challenge riders. They will then go up the control gates hill and follow the grass verge before dropping on to the Redwoods track leading to Huka falls then up to the Hub café. Through the tunnel into the Wairakei Mtb bike park were they will ride virtually every track in the park. They then exit the park via the tunnel again and go down to the Prawn Park and around Contact Energy geothermal power station following the western side of Aratiatia dam. Crossing the dam they then follow the Aratiatia track on to the Rotary Ride and back into town via more single tracks. Finishing off with a loop through the new Riverside Park, around the boat harbour and along Tongariro Street, with the roadies to the main finish line.

Support Stuff

Tracks

Most of the ride will be on single track of grade 2 and 3 with about 7 % grade 4. There will be a small amount of road to ride (it will be up a hill) and a 2km section of 4x4 track - sorry but we have to link up the single tracks somehow!
The tracks are all in great nick and the new tracks have packed down. Bike Taupo’s track crew have done a lot of work getting the cross over bridges and connecting tracks built and its going to be one great ride of single track after single track

Distance 

The distance is going to be around 77 to 80 kms again. And we reckon you will have about 63kms on single track. We will post the correct distance when we get closer to event day.

Training

Last year’s finishing times worked out to be about equivalent to riding your road bike around the lake. But all said it was a lot harder on the body. Although we do not have any extra long climbs you will get a lot of climbing and descending with some climbs being quite technical. Endurance should be a big part of your training as well as training to ride for long periods on single track.

Why

Because you are mad if you don’t!!!!!!!

This race was dreamed up by mountain bikers for mountain bikers. We wanted an old school type race on mountain bike tracks not gravel roads and it had to be as hard as around the lake. We have achieved that, its going to be hard but a full on epic that you will remember for a long time

Proceeds

Any surplus proceeds will be put back into biking; many of the tracks that you will be riding on have been built with the proceeds from past Cycle Challenges 

More Course Info

When you register and get your goody bag we will give you heaps more info that you will forget but we will be able to say we told you so.

Two types

1. The Huka Challenge is for all normal people who are up to the challenge and are in for all the normal prizes on the day.
   
2. The Huka XL is for the elite riders racing for prize money they must hold a race license.

Entry

For an entry form or to enter online go to www.cyclechallenge.com

Course Maps