Organisers are predicting records could be broken this weekend, as conditions are perfect for fast riding in New Zealand's longest, hardest and arguable most scenic mountain biking event. The longest option, the Contact Epic race, is a 125km full circumnavigation of the Lake Hawea shores, including through the Hunter Valley and Dingle Burn high country stations. Race director Danielle Nicholson said conditions were dry and rivers were low, so they were expecting very fast times this year. Much of it was arranged by volunteers from Lake Hawea and Makarora who ``go above and beyond the call of duty.'' The Centurion race starts at 5.30am on Saturday, at the lakefront and all races finish at the Lake Hawea Hotel Garden bar.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 20, 2017 16:18 UTC