The course will be different from past years, as many tracks have been changed to replace storm-damaged tracks from earlier this year. We also have new single tracks replacing old tracks that are going to the graveyard, and new tracks that will come from the skunk works. The course will be around 85 kms but one thing we will guarantee is it will not be easy, and live up to it standing as one of the hardest mountain bike races in NZ.

 

Mountain bikers 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 Caf�. 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 over the bridge and finishing off with a loop through the new Riverside Park, around the boat harbor and along Tongariro Street, with the roadies to the main finish line.

 

Yep, it’s hard, you have to be fit, determined and ready to tackle the challenge. You will reap the reward when you get the finish and know that you have nailed it. If you are a person who loves technical single tracks you will love the race. Due to the nature of this event, we reserve the right to remove you from the course if you or your bike is not up to our challenge.

 

Contact Cruiser approx 40 Km replacing the relay. Don’t be fooled by the name – not a gutbuster like the Huka, but still a good solid ride.

 

You leave town follow Huka course to the Hub Cafe including the new Junk and Disorderly single track, stop for a coffee if you wish. The course then turns RH to Totara Gully this is great single track beside the Waikato River continuing past the emerald hot water stream behind Wairakei Hotel on to Aratiatia. You then follow the track beside the Waikato river to Spa park past the Huka falls. More river tracks up past Taupo Bungy onto town and finish.

This course takes in all the best scenic parts of the Huka but believe me it’s not a walk in the park!

 

Support

 

Water and coffee will be available at the Hub Caf�. The Hub Caf� is also used by the Huka as a main support station so it’s a great place to hang out if you are a supporter-spectator with plenty of parking.

 

We will have a Water Stop at the Hub caf�, you will also be able to slip in and get some food and a short black if you need one to keep you going. That is going to be at about the 50km point. We will have Marshals on the tracks to help pick up the broken bits but in true MTB style you have to look after yourself.

Road Access is available to

HUB Cafe

Aratiatia

Spa Park

 

Most of the ride will be on single track of grade 2 and 3 with about 10 % grade 4. There will be a 2km section of 4x4 track - sorry but we have to link up the single tracks somehow! Expect to get tight technical tracks up to grade 4 all the way to Wairakei Resort Hotel so no sleeping on the job! 
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

Go to the videos section http://www.biketaupo.org.nz/content/blogcategory/106/135/ and check out the harder tracks, (or more fun)

Some of the tracks before the interchange are Tunnel track, Deb's , Mr & Mrs, Better than P, Slaylom , Buzzard, Coaster.

And some of the tracks after are Kegresse , Tunnel , Te Totara, Rotary Ride

This is just a taste, you will be riding heaps more tracks than those videoed.

The distance is going to be around 82 kms again. And we reckon you will have about 65kms on single track. We will post the correct distance when we get closer to event day.

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. Expect to get hit with single track all the way back into the town but they have great views.

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.

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 Huka Challenges.

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.

If you are keen on supporting your friends you can drive or ride to the Hub. If going by car please drive up Spa road onto the Eastern Bypass and then to the Wairakei Round-about. Then head back towards Taupo The Hub Caf� is net to the big helicopter on the corner of Huka Falls Road. If you want to bike out please wait until the MTB race has started and then head up the Control gates hill on the bike path. Staying beside the road, bike along the grass on the track until you see the helicopter and Hub Caf�. All riders will pass through this area so if you are surporting a solo rider or a contact Cruiser this is the place to be. Heaps of parking over the road from the interchange on the grass and in the scenic lookout

In fairness to the riders Please stay off the mountain bike tracks.

 

 

- 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. 82km

- The Huka XL is for the elite riders racing for prize money they must hold a race license. 82km

- The Contact Cruiser is a 40 km ride for those riders who want a great ride, packed with challenge. Normal prizes on the day.

Yes this race will have capped numbers because of some of the public tracks that we use. We advise you to enter early to avoid disappointment. We will try and set up a system to show the number of entries we have on the web site so you don’t miss out. We are not taking the piss on this, as we expect the cap to be reached in 2012 with the cruiser class being run

 

For an entry form or to enter online go to: http://regonline.activeeurope.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=982884

 

Check out the maps for the Wairakei Mtb Bike Park and also Rotary Ride maps. Plus watch the track crew news as to what tracks are being fixed or being build over the winter. 
MTB Practice course map and other resources are also on the CycleChallenge Website