The North Island Cycle Tour

After an absence of too many years, New Zealand’s Premier Cycle race will take to the roads over seven days from Wellington to Auckland in February 2009.

But this time around entry is “open to everyone”, from Elite riders who want to race hard for that yellow jersey, through to “Masters” and traditional “Fun” riders who want a serious challenge.

 

There’ll be age group categories for male and female riders over several age groups and a social session at the end of each day’s racing where the riders can swap tales and excuses.

 

Tour racing is the ultimate of all the Cycle racing disciplines. It is the real test of an athlete’s ability.

 

To be a tour champion the athlete must be the one who is best able to master the elements thrown up against him or her.

The champion must also be a master tactician able to control and manipulate his or her opponents.

In New Zealand we have a long tradition of tough testing tours since the first “Clarks” tour of 1954 when for six days the country marveled at the strength, stamina, speed and guile as 60 riders battled through the upper North Island finishing with a lap of Auckland’s Western Springs stadium.

 

Since that time we have seen the now legendary Dulux tours, raced between Auckland and Wellington that saw battles featuring greats of the sport in New Zealand like Laurie Byers, Bruce Biddle, Jack Swart and Brian Fowler.

 

The North Island tours also saw the emergence of future Tour de France stars like, Phil Anderson, Tino Tabak and Eric McKenzie.
 

And now that tradition is about to be revived with the
“ Lion Foundation Cycle Challenge” a Wellington to Auckland 7 day Bike Ride, that will see riders once again following in the wheel tracks of the giants of the road from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

 

So much for the serious side … this is more about the “Challenge” and the satisfaction of racing from Wellington to Auckland.

 

 

 

Lion Foundation Cycle Challenge 7 day Bike ride

 

Sunday 15th February to Saturday 21st 2009