This morning at 10am, 270 riders headed off from Wainui Road, Raglan riding in the 3rd Karioi Classic. Lisa Thomson waved the Ray White starting flag and the large pack of riders were off, heading South along the Opotoru Estuary. The 270 is up on the 200 who entered in 2011. This time twenty riders entered the double buster riding twice round the mountain.
The first riders are expected to finish at Te Kopua from 11.30am.
From Wainui Raod, after 1km the race turns left onto Te Hutewai Road. This is sealed and is a climb of about 2km, and the first section of gravel. The next 12km’s is a predominately slow climb up to Ruapuke Road.
Approximately 10km’s from the Te Hutewai turn off, riders turn right onto Waimaunga Road – this section is probably one of the toughest gravel sections, it is usually heavily covered in metal and much like it’s name Waimaunga – when wet the natural water flow off the mountain can make it slippery and muddy. Yes it can be a little bit of a slog – luckily it is at the beginning and is only about 3km’s. At the end turn right onto the seal of Ruapuke Road – this lasts for a short time before hitting another small patch of gravel.
Another nice stretch of seal comes taking you all the way to the turn off to Tuturimu Road which marks the beginning of more gravel. This is also a lovely down hill section where rdiers can take in the views of the ocean. There is also a little breather before starting some more hill work when Ruapuke Road runs onto Whaanga Road.
The last stretch of the ride is a left into Riria Kereopa Memorial Drive and right into the paddock of the Kokiri Centre (there will be a marshal directing riders) then onto right hand fenceline of the Raglan Airfield and the finish.