Race director Danielle Nicholson said despite perfect conditions, five riders were evacuated by helicopter for accidents involving a broken shoulder, hip and ribs.
Two riders completed the first Centurion 160km race with reasonably major injuries.
''Andrew McLeod, a local Wanaka doctor, self-diagnosed he had broken ribs and Bruce Thomson, of Christchurch, used a sweatband to cover a severe gash to his arm and couldn't make prize giving due to being operated on and stitched up at Christchurch hospital,'' Nicholson said.
More than 680 riders from all over New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, the United States and the Netherlands entered the Traverse (35km), Classic (95km), Epic (125km) and New Zealand's first single-day 100-mile race, the Centurion (160km).
Alexandra's Shaun Portegys was the first Centurion over the line in 6hr 41min, followed 15min later by David Drake, of Wanaka. Simon Callaghan, of Gore, was a close third.
Multisport athlete Floortje Grimmett, of Wanaka, won the women's title in 7hr 31min, from Ronel Cook (Dunedin) in 7hr 40min and Whitney Dagg (Christchurch) in 8hr 48min.
The $2400 first prize purse for the Epic went to newbie Edwin Crossling, of Wellington, in 4hr 39min. Wanaka physiotherapist Jo Williams claimed the women's event in 5hr 31sec.
Second for the men was John Metzger, of Wanaka, in 5min 57min, followed 0.1sec later by Mike Sangster, of Alexandra.
Soozie Wood, of Nelson, was second in the women's event and Nina McVicar, of Christchurch, third.
Classic winner Richard Anderson, of Wanaka, was just over 1min off breaking the course record in 4hr 9min, followed by 15-year-old Archie Martinovich, of Christchurch. Ty Sarginson (16), of Wanaka, was third.
Women's Classic winner Maureen Kernick, of Wanaka, finished in 5hr 31sec, followed by Sarah Gillespie, of Wanaka, in 5hr 41min Pip Depree, of Christchurch, in 5hr 45min.
''The collective call was for the Centurion to continue with many Epic riders having pledged to move up to the race in 2018,'' Nicholson said.
-By Kerrie Waterworth
