Mountain Biking: Champion rider aims for hat-trick

Whakatane's Karen Hanlen is looking for another win in Taupo.

Champion New Zealand mountain biker Karen Hanlen is looking for a hat-trick at this month's women's Contact Huka XL elite event at the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge.

It's one of the most challenging rides at the Cycle Challenge and only open to licensed riders - a significant achievement for Hanlen, a working mother of two based in Whakatane who started her mountain biking on a second-hand bike in 2011 and became a NZ champion.

"The XL is a good honest 85km ride on a great track. And it's a really good build-up to the coming season.

"I love the atmosphere, the organisation of the event - it's all wonderful and is a perfect fit for a long big ride."

Diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma in March, and following surgery to treat diseased blood vessels, Karen said she's fit, focused and looking forward to the Contact Huka XL ride, as well as holding on to her podium finish.

After the cycle challenge, Hanlen hopes to do well in the forthcoming nationals and Oceania games before competing in XC mountain biking events in Australia and the US.

Her advice to anyone wanting to start is to just get out and do it - even though she's a busy person, she's adjusted her lifestyle to fit in training as well as work and family time.

This year Karen's children, aged 5 and 7, are entering the 5km Kids Heart Ride event for the first time.

Kay Brake, Contact Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge event director, said: "Karen is another inspiring athlete and it's wonderful that she's returning this year ..."

Contact Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge is New Zealand's largest cycling event. More than 8000 riders from New Zealand and 20 countries across the globe take part each year.

The challenge is best known for its 160km Bike Barn Solo, the one-lap circumnavigation of Lake Taupo.