Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge: routes and how to prepare
- Distance
- 161 km
- Climbing
- 1,716 m
- Highest point
- 660 m
- Categorised climbs
- 16 · up to 13 %
- Shape
- Loop
Measured on the course you ride in Cycloscape. The organiser's own figures are below.
Elevation profile
360–660 m · 16 categorised climbsThe 6 biggest of 16 categorised climbs, in the order you ride them.
The Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge is New Zealand's biggest cycling event: nine rides from 16 to 320 km, around and beside Lake Taupō, in the centre of the North Island. The pillar event is the Round the Lake, a loop of about 160 km. The 2026 edition is on Saturday 28 November 2026, on the way to the event's 50th anniversary.
Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge at a glance
- Where
- Taupō, New Zealand
- Official website
- cyclechallenge.com ↗
- Next edition
- 28 November 2026
- Route
- Round the Lake: 160 km
- Terrain
- Rolling to flat
- Facts checked
- 4 November 2026, against the sources below
Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Ride the real course on your trainer. The route of Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge, 161 km, as a 3D world, with your trainer following its gradients — any day, and as part of your Event Coach plan. Part of Cycloscape Pro.
The routes
The Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge is one route.
| Route | Distance | Climbing |
|---|---|---|
| Round the Lake | 160 km | — |
What the course asks of you
The loop around the lake rolls through farmland and forest on the volcanic plateau, with a few longer climbs — the best known is the climb out of Kuratau, on the western side — and long, open stretches where the wind matters.
Ride in a group on the open roads, pace the climbs evenly, and save something for the last 40 km back to Taupō.
How to prepare
The general shape of a good preparation, which Event Coach turns into a plan for your fitness, time and date:
- Train steady power: efforts of 10 to 20 minutes just below your threshold teach you the pace you can hold over the rolling roads of the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge.
- Build the long ride towards 160 km, at a pace you could keep all day.
- Ride part of your training in a group: on rolling roads, staying in a wheel saves more energy than any other choice.
Pacing mistakes to avoid
The mistakes that cost riders the most on a day like this:
- Pushing every rise of the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge: on rolling roads, keep the effort steady and let the speed vary.
- Following the fastest wheels in the first kilometres, when everything feels easy.
- Drinking only when thirsty: a long rolling day dehydrates you before you notice.
Prepare the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge with Cycloscape
Tell Event Coach you are doing the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge, your route and what you want from the day, and it builds your preparation towards 28 November 2026: structured workouts held by your trainer in ERG, Race Pacing for how to spend your effort, and Performance Lab to see whether the work is landing. Full preparation and course training require Event Coach Pro.
Frequently asked
When is the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge 2026?
On Saturday, 28 November 2026, according to the organiser.
How long is the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge?
Round the Lake: 160 km. The Round the Lake as described by the organiser (about 160 km); eight other rides range from 16 to 320 km.
How many riders take part?
About 3,000 riders in 2025.
Can I ride the course of the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge in Cycloscape?
Yes, inside Event Coach with Cycloscape Pro: once you start your preparation, the course is ridden on your trainer as part of the plan.