Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge Fantastic Again

In its 39-year history nearly 190,000 people have taken part in the Contact Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, recently named the Best NZ-Owned Major Event.
 
This year almost 7,000 participants pitched themselves across 18 different categories from relays, solo and elite road rides, mountain bike tracks to short distant rides for families and kids.   It’s a sensational event that sees Taupo’s population more than double with more spectators and supporters than event participants.
 
“The whole town really welcomes riders and supporters and it’s buzzing here.  It’s great that cafes, shops and restaurants fully support the action as do our 800 plus volunteers,” says Kay Brake Contact Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge Event Director.
 
“Everyone’s motivation is different; some people come back year after year, others are here for the first time or come back to achieve a personal best or to be part of a team and get fit.”
 

Heart Kids. Photo courtesy of The Business Studio

Heart Kids is the official charity of Contact Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge and today plucky seven-year-old Talia Faith, a recent star of Seven Sharp with her own health challenges, rode the event to raise funds for the Heart Kids' cause.
 
The elite riders provided thrilling finishes for spectators with milli-seconds separating the winners of the 100km Women’s Road Race.
 

Photo courtesy of The Business Studio

Te Puke family team, The Chain Gang won the newly created Ultimo Dress Up Award.  This event was the inspiration needed to get dad, Garry back on his bike following a fractured pelvis and surgery. Training and completing the Accumulator as a family was ‘the best idea ever’.
 

Photo courtesy of The Business Studio

Central Transport Ltd, based in Reporoa, won the closely contested No Name Workplace Challenge giving the central North Island cartage company naming rights to the workplace competition in 2016.
 

Photo courtesy of The Business Studio

 “It’s a huge congratulations to all the participants, supporters and volunteers for another fantastic event.  We love the fact that we’ve helped raise money for Heart Kids, our official charity, and net proceeds go back to communities.”