Queenstown multisport athlete Jim Hawkridge will join the field of competitors in the annual mountain bike race from Millbrook to Chard Farm for the first time.
Back for its sixth consecutive year, the New World Tour de Wakatipu will take place on Sunday 19th April.
 2013 Open Mens winner Matthew Lees, followed by Matt Randel and Dave Drew(Photo: Patrick Fallon / Queenstown Bike Festival; click to enlarge) |
Hawkridge is looking forward to the challenge of trying to beat last year's fastest time of one hour and 29 minutes, which saw Matthew Lees take out the elite open men's title.
"My current training has been designed to maintain a high threshold level for some time. I plan to give this race all I have got", and with a recent King of the Mountain title in the Milford Classic he will provide a real challenge to other elite racers.
"I'm really looking forward to it, the race is in my home patch with part of the trail going right past my backdoor and the exclusive access that the race gives will be fantastic, my thanks go to the farmer for allowing the Tour de Wakatipu this once a year access", said Hawkridge.
Hawkridge is constantly in training and competes in events all year round, with his next event the Motatapu marathon on March 8th.
The New World Tour de Wakatipu on April continues to attract widespread interest due to the stunning and varied course starting at Queenstown's Millbrook Resort and finishing in the vines at the Chard Farm Winery, where competitors settle in to enjoy an afternoon of wine, food and live music.
The course makes use of the majority of tracks prepared by the Queenstown Trails Trust and the event provides the opportunity to ride it all in one go.
Race Director Geoff Hunt says "What is good about this race is that anyone, at any level, can participate and make it as challenging as they want. We are getting a lot of feedback from people who will be competing in their first ever event, to elite riders and bikers who are making a come back to competition."
"It's a great event that showcases the good work that has gone on over the last few years round this part of the district," states Hunt.
Last year the race drew a field of over 600 competitors and race director Geoff Hunt is expecting similar numbers this year.
"The interest we have had already this year is huge, the versatility of the event caters to cyclists of all abilities."
"At one end we get the serious competitors and at the other we get families interested in a scenic ride around the most beautiful track in the country."
Last year the last to finish the event were the Parks family from the UK. Jean and Roger Parks, from Stourbridge in the UK were visiting their son and his wife here. Jean took up mountain biking 5 years ago, which is impressive when you realize she is 75 and her husband is 79.
Roger Parks commented on the finish line " I have never been on a course like this, it's just so incredible'. Jean Parks echoed this and 'found the scenery absolutely stunning and that everyone they had met was really friendly'.
With Easter some 20 days later this year and a few cold snaps passing up the country the racers in the Tour de Wakatipu will be in all it's autumn glory.
Entries for the race are open now and can be found on the Tour de Wakatipu website.
