Unicyclist Richard Lees had just three words to describe his condition after completing the Contact Epic 90km classic mountain bike race around Lake Hawea on Saturday - "wrecked and exhausted''.
The 58-year-old computer softwear developer, who is originally from the Hutt Valley but now lives in Sydney, took more than 10 hours to complete the ride that started at 7am at Kidds Bush near the neck of the lake.
He rode into the finish chute at the Lake Hawea Hotel to cheers and applause in time for the 5.30pm prizegiving ceremony.
Lee's time of 10hr 24min 09sec was more than double that of the race winner, Wanaka teenager Paul Wright (18), who finished in 4hr 08min 08sec.
"That was so much more demanding that I was expecting,'' Lees said.
"I've done a few adventure races before and have ridden across countries including Tibet and Africa.
"They were actually on a much easier track. This was one so rough, so up and down.''
Riding the bike, that had two gears and a 914mm wheel, was "kind of like skiing'', he said.
Lees said he had received great support on the ride.
"People out there did such a good job.''
In the feature 125km Epic race, Wanaka multisport athlete Dougal Allan's record of 4hr 36min set in 2012 remained intact despite a close finish.
Saturday's race was won by Alexandra cyclist James Williamson in 4hr 46min 47sec, 1min ahead of Allan who finished in 4hr 48min 32sec.
Richard Dunnett was third in 4hr 57min 28sec.
Kath Kelly, of Roxburgh, won the women's race in 5hr 43min 29min, with Nina McVicar, of Christchurch, second in 5hr 56min 47sec and Shannon Hope, of Dunedin, third in 6hr 01min 02sec.
Williamson, who also won the race in 2014, said the course this year had been in "really good condition'', with river levels all reasonably low and easy to cross.
However, he still ranked the event as the "hardest race in New Zealand''.
A clearly disappointed Allan, who this year won Challenge Wanaka, said the race was "tough as expected''.
"At least I don't have to go and run a marathon now,'' he said.
Speaking at the prizegiving ceremony, course director Aaron Nicholson said the ninth annual event that attracted 638 riders in the epic, classic and traverse categories had been hugely successful.
He thanked Hunter Valley and Dingleburn Stations landowners for "opening the gate'' and allowing access.
"Without them, we would not have a race,'' Mr Nicholson said.
Results. - Traverse (35km), student: Ty Sarginson (Wan) 1hr 30min 33sec, 1; Archie Martinovich (Chch) 1.38.38, 2; Lucas Schafer (Wan) 1.52.10, 3. Open men: Harvey Brough (Wan) 1.35.34, 1; Nicholas Krsinic (Auk) 1.50.12, 2; Andrew Bailey (Chch) 1.51.13, 3. Open women: Paula Race (Arrowtown) 1.38.25, 1; Leigh Cohen (Wan) 1.50.14, 2; Libby Pellowe (Auk) 1.50 59, 3. Vet men: Donald Carey (Rox) 1.34.08, 1; Darren Hassett (Arrowtown) 1.38.24, 2; Peter Hughes (Dun) 1.49.21, 3. Vet women: Katrina Anderson (Arrowtown) 1.34.14, 1; Catherine Pell (Wan) 1.47.38, 2; Debbie King (Brighton) 1.51.44, 3.
Classic (90km), open men: Paul Wright (Wan) 4.08.08, 1; Sam Portegys (Alex) 4.29.25, 2; Angus Kerr (Wan) 4.37.02, 3. Open women: Melissa Newell (Wan) 5.02.49, 1;
Sarah Moreton (Q'town) 5.26,39, 2; Kat Bulk (Q'town) 5.42 46, 3.
Epic (125 km), open men: James Williamson (Alex) 4.46.47, 1; Dougal Allan (Wan) 4.48.32, 2; Richard Dunnett (UK) 4.57.28, 3. Open women: Kath Kelly (Rox) 5.43.29, 1; Nina McVicar (Chch)5.56.47, 2; Shannon Hope (Dun) 6.01.02, 3.
- Cris Johnston
