READ THE FULL LAKE TAUPO CYCLE CHALLENGE REVIEW →
One lap of the supervolcano
Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge circles the caldera on sealed state highway — rolling rather than flat, with three named hills providing the structure: Waihaha Hill's false summit, Waihi Hill's grind above the lake, and Hatepe Hill's late climb into the finish. Surface is well-maintained tarmac with some rough patches, and the demand is steady pace across the rolling terrain and distance, not technical handling.
For the rider with eight focused weeks and seven to eleven hours a week, this plan concentrates on the essentials: steady rolling-terrain pace and the legs to still climb well at Hatepe Hill late in the ride.
INSIDE THE FINISHER PLAN — 7–11 HR/WK
Includes zone-tailored structured rides for your devices, built-in strength with video walkthroughs, heat protocols for when your race calls for them, peloton skills workouts, and nutrition and hydration guidance.
The Complete Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge Guide — the training, the tactics, the gear and race day, explained simply and clearly: what to do, when to do it, and why it works.
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Hey, I'm Matti. I spent 11 years at TrainingPeaks, where they trusted me to teach coaches how to coach at TrainingPeaks University. I raced Amateur Elite with Rio Grande Cycling Team and podiumed my age group at Unbound 200 in 2026. I have a degree in biology and exercise physiology from St. Olaf. I'm also a middle-aged dad of three, so I know training doesn't happen in a vacuum. I help gravel riders get stupidly fast without becoming the person who brings a food scale to a party