Cycling: Records fall in Taupo Challenge

There were records galore when almost 5000 riders competed in the 23rd annual Great Lake Cycle Challenge at Taupo.

For the first time in the history of the event, the four-hour mark for the 160km journey around Lake Taupo was broken on Saturday.

A total of 43 riders home broke the four-hour barrier, Palmerston North's Lee Vertongen leading them across the line in 3h 45m.

Vertongen praised the leading bunch for his success and the smart times set by the riders on a day of records.

Aucklander Susy Pryde was the first woman home, also beating the four-hour barrier and setting a women's record of 3h 57m.

Earlier in the day, Levin cyclist Peter Barnie beat the New Zealand 24-hour and 12-hour endurance records by cycling non-stop around the Owen Delany Park velodrome.

After starting his bid on Friday, Barnie completed the 24-hour test by clocking up a record 638km.

Saturday's Great Lake Cycle Challenge also drew a record 634 relay teams and a record 51 enduro riders who rode twice round the lake.

The best of the dozen super enduro riders who completed 500km was Austin Parker, from Wellington.

The event was a personal triumph for New Plymouth cyclist Andrew Fraser, who completed the 160km course on a pennyfarthing cycle in just under 10 hours.