Record numbers expected at Auckland cycling event

Record numbers expected at Auckland cycling event

Record numbers are expected to turn out in Clevedon, south of Auckland, on Saturday for the annual 110km SRAM Tour de Ranges recreational cycling event.

Over 1000 riders of all ages and abilities will traverse the rolling hills of the Hunua Ranges and scale the coastline of the Hauraki Gulf in the largest cycling event in the Auckland region.

“It’s such a beautiful course. It has your hills and your flats with riders going through valleys and also along the coastal roads; it’s quite a spectacular course,” said event manager Frank Clarke.

This event doubles as round five of the 2012/13 BikeNZ Summer Series, meaning riders will have the opportunity to push their claims for overall General Classification (GC) points and the right to be called the best recreational cyclist in New Zealand.

“The BikeNZ Summer Series has been really great in getting Kiwis out riding which is important. It definitely adds value to the event by giving us a bigger reach to a wider range of people,” said Clarke.

“I think people always like events that are associated with professional organisations like BikeNZ.”

The SRAM Tour de Ranges also offers a shorter 30km ride to cater for all ages and abilities, including those just starting out in the sport.

“You have to have a pathway to get people into cycling but if you only have the one option of a really long ride that makes it a little daunting.”

There are still seven rounds left of the BikeNZ Summer Series so it’s not too late to get involved. For more information, including entries and GC points tables, visit www.bikenzsummerseries.co.nz.

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