The starting line of the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge in 2019 Photo: Supplied/ Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge
Taupō businesses are putting out the bike racks to welcome back the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge.
The cycle challenge has grown into a major event since it began in 1977, and was planned to return to Taupō this weekend for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began, with races scheduled to start just after 6am on Saturday.
"This event has been a mainstay on the New Zealand cycling and Taupō event calendars," event director Hayden Dickason said.
Events include courses of different lengths for different abilities and different surfaces including sealed routes, gravel and mountain biking.
Competitors circling the lake during the race in 2017 Photo: Supplied/ Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge
The most well known course was the the full 160km loop of the lake. This year a new Length of the Lake road event of about 55km had also been planned.
When the event began in 1977 it had just 26 participants. It now frequently attracts around 5000 riders from across New Zealand and the globe.
Local business owner Scott Forsythe said the cycle challenge was a key event for the town in a month which could otherwise be very quiet.
Photo: Supplied/ Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge
"The cycle challenge brings thousands of people from around the country into our town. It adds great vibrancy to our town and our economy," Forsythe said.
However, Taupō still needed more workers to cater for the visitors, especially in hospitality, he said.
"It's really hard in Taupō at the moment. We rely on backpackers during the summer to get through. There are cafes having to shut two days a week just so they can keep going."