| November 26, 2005 | ||
| 12:01 am |
This Saturday is the big ride. New Zealand’s largest ever gathering of cyclists ……over 11,500 entries have now been received for this Saturday’s event and event organisers have been inundated with requests for late entries since the closing date of November 12. The popularity of the event is a great indication of the health of cycling in this country, says Event Director Keith Crate, and while organisers dislike having to turn riders away, an influx of hundreds of late entries could impact on organisers’ ability to provide a safe and well run event.
This year’s event will feature a parade of historic bikes orgainsed by cycle historians the Kennett brothers. The Parade will pass along Tongariro St at 7.30 pm on Friday and will lead the Super Enduro riders on the first of their four rides through Taupo during their 500km Challenge. The parade will be lead by Bevan Docherty who will ride the bike that Event Patron Walter De Bont rode in the first Cycle Challenge 29 years ago.
The Avanti Classic Race has attracted a large and particularly strong field including Gordon McCauley and Aaron Strong fresh from the Tour of Southland, last year’s stand out Classic riders Nadene Boyle and Geoff Burndred, cycling legends Jack Swart and Brian Fowler and Olympians Sarah Ulmer and Bevan Docherty. The Classic will provide a real thrill for spectators with a sprint finish along Lake Terrace around 10.30am.
The Kennett brothers are also putting together a four person relay on vintage bikes (riders in costume) and the last leg will be done on a Penny Farthing . As the Penny has no brakes the rider will stop at the top of Hatepe Hill and chop down a small tree that will be dragged behind the bike on the downhill to keep the speed to 20km! The event will also see rowing bikes , three and four person bikes and unicycles.
Also riding this year are Julian Dean, Fiona Docherty, Mark Inglis, Aaron Slight, Steve Gurney and The Minister for Sport and Recreation Trevor Mallard.
Hopefully the weather will be kind on the day!