DAILY VIDEO - CLICK HERE
With much anticipation we left the town of Thames rolling up the Coromandel coast for the start of an epic 165km day with over 2000m of climbing. The weather gods remain on our side with a near windless morning proving champagne conditions as the Firth of Thames shone like a mirror and kept spirits high as we made good pace up the coast.
We hit our first big hills of the day testing legs fatigued from work done in previous days but solid progress from all the riders kept us moving at a good pace. After a quality morning tea put on by the amazing support team the gravity of having to ride back to Thames and crest the same mountains set in but everyone rose to the challenge battling some steep inclines and even steeper descents as we headed back south for lunch.
For the non-riders reading, at 110km most sane folk, even seasoned cyclists, wouldn’t generally choose to then ride over an entire mountain range after lunch. But we’re a tough bunch and so we strapped our self in for another session of questioning our life choices and suffering as we set off to Whangamata.
Fighting tired legs we ground up a 10km climb through temperate rainforest that was not temperate at all; but more oven like, with baking sun and no wind causing us to sweat bullets as we kept left and avoided the convoy of endless fishing boats heading to do proper “leisure” activities. Some incredible riding from everyone making it over at a solid pace despite the tough conditions!
The start of our descending saw a few people proudly smashing personal speed records just shy of 100km and a few people having to change knicks at the next drink stop having got speed wobbles at high speed. But unscathed we were on the home stretch and made it to Whangamata exhausted but elated eight hours after setting off.
We’re raising money for the Starlight Foundation to support them in bringing happiness to sick kids lives. Every dollar raised brings fun and smiles to kids’ faces and your support sponsoring this year’s event is incredible and greatly appreciated!
