"Now I'm riding about eight hours a week," Jones, 27, said. "I'm really unfit compared to what I used to do.
"I'm in the real world now working full-time, so I don't have as much time to train. In the last few years, riding 100km was pretty easy but this year it's going to be a real mental and physical challenge.
"I will definitely give it everything I have got though, I have never not been on the podium, but it is going to be an uphill battle."
The favourite to break Jones' streak this year will most likely be Commonwealth Games silver medallist Sam Gaze (Cambridge) who was leading the race last year but took a wrong turn.
"He went the wrong way in the last couple of kms and that's where I overtook him," Jones said. "I was gaining on him but he had about a minute's lead [when he took the wrong turn]."
The MetService is predicting some rainy weather this weekend in Rotorua which will make it even tougher for riders.
Jones said he actually fared pretty well in muddy conditions, so was not too concerned about the poor weather. He said if he had any advice for first timers this weekend it would be to keep consuming food and liquids.
"Don't stop eating and don't stop drinking, and don't go too hard too soon."
The event tomorrow includes a few different distances on offer including 100km, 50km, 25km and 15km races.
Event director Tim Farmer said about 500 riders would be taking part, including a record 200 riders in the feature 100km race. Farmer and his team have been out marking the course all week and he said it was a lot different from previous years.
The men's and women's winner in the 100km event will collect $1000 each, plus there's also prize money up for grabs during the inaugural Whaka Shootout (time trial) tonight.
* The feature 100km event starts and finishes at Waipa carpark, with riders starting at 8am tomorrow and the winners expected to finish about 1pm.
