Like L&P in Paeroa, a bike race scheduled for next year may just become world famous in Wakatipu.
Southern Traverse director Geoff Hunt said the New World Tour de Wakatipu, proposed for Easter next year, would provide exclusive access through Coneburn Station, beside the Kawarau River, finishing with a function at Chard Farm winery.
The 45km event, scheduled for April 7, would appeal to mountain bikers of all levels, borne out of the idea of staging a fun but challenging race through Wakatipu, incorporating two lakes, two rivers and new tracks opened recently by the Wakatipu Trails Trust.
Mr Hunt said the event would begin in the Arrowtown-Millbrook area, following a course to access the newly gazetted Wakatipu Trails Trust tracks, across Speargrass Flat Rd and on to Slopehill Rd.
Bikers would then travel along a scenic single track beside the Shotover River and across the restored Lower Shotover bridge, before following a gravel road and 4WD track to the Shotover delta.
From there, the course would join the Kawarau River track, crossing the Kawarau River bridge at the exit point of Lake Wakatipu and finishing with a section on the "scenic and private Kawarau River Rd" on Coneburn Station, finishing at Chard Farm.
"The ride is for both elite and recreational competitors and from the front of the field there will be intense competition, as these athletes race to finish the event in around two to three hours.
"The recreational bikers will take anything up to five hours," Mr Hunt said.
The event would also include age group sections and a junior section (15-19 years) was designed to encourage younger competitors.
"This will suit a range of abilities and will be an excellent follow-up ride to the Motatapu Challenge in March."
Entrants would also be supporting children with life-threatening illnesses by raising money for Cure Kids.
Cure Kids chief executive Kaye Parker said the organisation was thrilled to benefit from the Wakatipu event.
Wakatipu New World owner-operators John and Mary Thompson, lead sponsor for the Tour de Wakatipu, said the event was an opportunity to promote and support healthy living and also to support Cure Kids.
