25 Jan 2022

Major Taupō cycle event cancelled again due to Covid-19 red light setting

3:15 pm on 25 January 2022

New Zealand's largest cycling event is the latest to fall under the Covid-19 red traffic light level.

About 5000 riders were expected to attend the February event which has now been cancelled.

About 5000 riders were expected to attend the February event which has now been cancelled. Photo: BDO Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge

BDO Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge says with no clear direction on how long the level will last for, it has cancelled its 19 February event.

About 5000 riders and 7500 supporters were expected to attend.

The event had already been postponed from its original November 2021 date, and had also been cancelled in 2020.

Organiser Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge Trust said it was "hugely disappointed" to make the announcement, given the event's 43-year history.

The trust said events of this scale brought significant social and economic benefit so the cancellation would not only disappoint riders, but also volunteers, suppliers, sponsors, accommodation and hospitality providers, and the wider Taupō community.

The next Taupō cycle challenge event is planned for Saturday 26 November.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs