Organisers are predicting records could be broken this weekend, as conditions are perfect for fast riding in New Zealand's longest, hardest and arguable most scenic mountain biking event.
The longest option, the Contact Epic race, is a 125km full circumnavigation of the Lake Hawea shores, including through the Hunter Valley and Dingle Burn high country stations.
Race director Danielle Nicholson said conditions were dry and rivers were low, so they were expecting very fast times this year.
More than 680 competitors have entered the four events: the 125km Epic, the 95km Classic, the 35km Traverse and the new Centurion, a 100-mile or 160km course.
``As this year is our 10th birthday, we decided to trial a new event and we have 60 riders in the Centurion, which is a very popular race in America and Australia, but it's never been run in New Zealand. ''
Ms Nicholson said one of the biggest differences with that race compared to others was the lack of communication.
``There is no phone, radio or GPS coverage and we chopper in a repeater to a nearby mountain summit for the radios to work.''
Much of it was arranged by volunteers from Lake Hawea and Makarora who ``go above and beyond the call of duty.''
The Centurion race starts at 5.30am on Saturday, at the lakefront and all races finish at the Lake Hawea Hotel Garden bar.
- Kerrie Waterworth
