Cycling: Novel tour draws cyclists together

The inaugural Tour of New Zealand Cycle Race set off from both ends of the country - simultaneously in Cape Reinga and Bluff as riders head for the Beehive in Wellington.

On Saturday, hundreds of cyclists left either Cape Reinga or Bluff to ride nearly 700km to arrive in Wellington, taking eight days.

From the Cape, individuals or team members rode 111km to Kaitaia. On Sunday, they left Omapere for Dargaville (79km) and on Monday, completed their time in Northland, riding from Dargaville to Brynderwyn (70km).

They then drove to Tuakau to ride 84km to Raglan yesterday. Today they ride from Waitomo Caves to Taumarunui (102km) and on day six, they leave National Park to ride to Wanganui (broken into two stages totalling 118km).

Day seven sees cyclists leave Pahiatua to ride 74km to Masterton and the final day of the tour consists of a criterium event around the Beehive.

Meanwhile, South Island cyclists are making their way north during the week, riding various stages - and avoiding main state highways as it was too dangerous for riders and too complicated to arrange with traffic safety management, organiser Peter Yarrell said.

This is the first event of its kind and has attracted media from Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, China and the UK who have come to ride in the tour.

After three stages, Japan's Dan Underwood was leading the individual tour, while Air Force Ohakea were the team tour leaders.

Air Force Ohakea are a corporate team of six personnel from Ohakea Air Base, who are celebrating 75 years of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

To date, conditions in the North Island had been ideal for cycling, Yarrell said, - despite it being windy on stage one, leaving Cape Reinga.