Cycling: No rest for the extreme cyclist

Extreme enduro riders line up in Tongariro St Taupo. Photo / Laurilee McMichael

The first riders in the 2013 Contact Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge set off from Taupo yesterday, nearly three days ahead of the main field.

The six entrants in the Barfoot and Thompson extreme enduro ride will do eight laps around Lake Taupo, a total of 1280km, or the equivalent of riding from Taupo to Invercargill. Rider Ron Skelton, who has completed the extreme enduro three times, said he did it for the challenge. He expected to take 68 to 72 hours to finish the ride, and snatch just two hours' sleep along the way. The main cycle challenge event will be in Taupo on Saturday.