The Tamahine Tour, one of New Zealand's most established cycling events, turns 30 this weekend.
The two-day tour has become a popular part of the Otago cycling calendar, three decades after it was introduced by the Tamahine company's Ross Gamble.
"We have always held it as a club tour that anyone could ride in, and also keeping it close to town helped encourage entries in making it affordable," Gamble said.
"On looking over past results, it has never been dominated by any one rider."
Prominent cyclists who worked for Tamahine included Geoff Keogh and Brian Thomson, twice a winner of the tour A grade title.
Brothers Brian and Kevin Thomson placed first and second respectively in 1981, with Brian also second in the 1980 edition and first in 1979.
Other prominent placegetters have included Syd Fogden, Paul Hoskin, Bill Allen, Brian Fowler, Darryn Wispinski, Steven Harcourt and Del Woodford.
The tour begins tomorrow with an 11km prologue on the Woodside block, a challenging circuit for a time trial course with its corners and little rises.
The second stage is a road race held around the Berwick Block circuit, while the third stage starts and finishes on Huntley Rd on Sam's circuit.
On Sunday, the fourth stage is the Green Island-Taieri Mouth circuit, while the fifth and final stage is criterium held in the afternoon on the wharf circuit, providing an ideal opportunity for spectators to come and watch some exciting racing.
Report time tomorrow is 9am.
Grades are category 1, 2 and 3, and a separate women's grade is to be held for the second year in a row, which indicates women's numbers are growing. The women's grade covers the same distance over the weekend as category 2.
There is a prize pool of more than $5000 across all the grades.
- Cycling correspondent
