# Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge

The Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge is New Zealand's largest mass participation cycling event. First held in 1977, it takes place on the last Saturday of each November and circumnavigates Lake Taupō, a volcanic crater lake in the centre of the North Island. The ride starts and finishes in Taupō with one full circuit being approximately 160 km. Around 7,000 riders take part each year.

## Categories

The event aims to cater for all riders, from the elite racers to those just wishing to make it around. This is reflected in the range of finishing times - from under 4 to over 10 hours. Riders are asked to nominate finishing times and staggered starts are used to group riders by ability.
Subcategories of the event are (2022 data):
* Round The Lake: A one lap circuit of Lake Taupō, starting and finishing in Taupō and following Poihipi Road and State Highways 32, 41 and 1. Approximately 160 km.
* Length Of The Lake: One half of the full circuit, starting at Tūrangi and finishing in Taupō. Approximately 80 km.
* Lakesider: A 16 km leisure ride for recreational cyclists, mostly off-road.
* Enduro: An option for individuals who ride multiple laps of the lake circuit (normally either two, four or eight, - this is certified as a qualifying brevet for Paris–Brest–Paris and RAAM).
* Huka Mountain Bike: Mountain bike challenges of 35 km, 60 km or 85 km, and an 85 km elite licensed rider race.
* Men's Classic Road Race: An official BikeNZ sanctioned race. Participants set off before the rest of the riders, competing in a full-on race, with a current racing license required, and entry limited to 100 riders. Riders must have a previous best time in the main event of under 4:30.
* Women's Classic Road Race: A women's only 100 km race for licensed riders from Taupō to Tūrangi and return.

## Records

Source:
* Fastest Round the Lake (male): Sam Gaze 3:37 (2017 Men's Classic winner)
* Fastest Round the Lake (female): Susy Pryde 3:57 (1999)

## Past winners

Source:
| Year | Men's winner | Women's winner |
| 1998 | Darren Murray | Susy Pryde |
| 1999 | Lee Vertongen | Susy Pryde |
| 2000 | Jason Kelly, Patrick Kelly & John Barry (Tridem) | Susy Pryde |
| 2001 | Marcel Hollenstein | Michelle Hyland |
| 2002 | Paul de Rijk | Melissa Pilla |
| 2003 | Matthew Yates | Roz Reekie-May |
| 2004 | Jeremy Yates | Nadene Boyle |
| 2005 | Peter Latham | Meshy Holt |
| 2006 | Hamish Bond | Brei Gudsell |
| 2007 | Gordon McCauley | Kerri-Anne Torckler |
| 2008 | Peter Latham | Kaytee Boyd |
| 2009 | Jeremy Yates | Melissa Holt |
| 2010 | Roman Van Uden | Karen Fulton |
| 2011 | Michael Torckler | Kaytee Boyd |
| 2012 | Mike Northey | Rushlee Buchanan |
| 2013 | Michael Torckler | Reta Trotman |
| 2014 | Patrick Bevin | Ruby Livingstone |
| 2015 | Dion Smith | Racquel Sheath |
| 2016 | Aaron Gate | Racquel Sheath |
| 2017 | Sam Gaze | Matilda Raynolds |
| 2018 | Hamish Bond | Ione Johnson |
| 2019 | Kees Duyvesteyn | Sharlotte Lucas |
| 2020 | No race due COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand | No race due COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand |
| 2021 | No race due COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand | No race due COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand |
| 2022 | Michael Torckler | Claudia Weidekam |