The inaugural Tour Te Waipounamu bikepacking race began early on the morning of Sunday, 14th February from Cape Farewell, the northernmost point of New Zealand’s South Island.
Riders will travel around 1350km to the southern tip of the island at Slope Point. The route has around 22,000m of elevation gain, 140km of singletrack and 30-50km of hike-a-bike through rugged high country terrain. The remote backcountry will leave riders at the mercy of the elements which can vary from scorching sun to high winds, freezing rain and snow.
The range of competitors is broad, from experienced bikepacking racers to relative novices. All entrants are accomplished athletes in their own right however, with backgrounds in mountaineering, adventure racing and cycling.
The front of the race is expected to be highly competitive with several racers capable of taking the win.
Live tracking can be found here at Maprogress
Details below for some of the starters of the inaugural Tour Te Waipounamu bikepacking race
Brian Alder | 56 | Takaka
EXPERIENCE: Great Southern Brevet & Kiwi Brevet x2, Tour Divide, Colorado Trail Race (dnf), Le Petit Brevet x 3, Six Corners Challenge x 4. Creator of the Tour Te Waipounamu!
BIKE: Santa Cruz Chameleon C (XL), Santa Cruz Reserve 30 29r wheels, Vittoria Mezcal 2.35 tyres, Shimano XT/ SLX 12 Spd drivetrain; 30 x 10-51, Rockshox Pike 130mm fork, KS Lev Dropper.
BAGS: Apidura backcountry bags; seat, frame, handlebar plus top tube and feed bags
SLEEPING: 4 hours per night. Sleeping bag and bivvy bag, no mat
NUTRITION: Eat big at the shops, carry plenty for the bits between. No Stove, No Coffee. Electrolytes, cheese, salami, bars, jet planes, dehy for the big sections
OTHER GEAR: Etrex and phone app for Navigation, Led Lenser MH10 headlamp, Fenix UC35 both with 18650 batteries, shoulder straps for the carry sections, baggy shorts- downhills are for fun.
Instagram: @brianinpics
Tony LeSueur | 47 | Wellington
BIKE: Ibis Tranny carbon 29er running Rohloff hub and Dynamo up front. Both on wheelworks carbon rims. 2.25 Schwalbe Thunder Burt on the rear and 2.35 Schwalbe Rock Razor up front. Fox Factory 120mm 34 forks. kLite v2 front lights and kLite rear cubes. Aero bars and a Sella Anatomica R saddle
BAGS: Porcelain Rocket seatpost bag. Revelate framebag, Gas Tank, harness with sweet roll and front pocket.
SLEEPING: Big Agnes Fly Creek Carbon, Big Agnes mat and Marmot Phase 30 bag.
Tad Medjr | 39 | Auckland
Stephen Butterworth | 41 | Cambridge
BIKE: Surly Karate Monkey single speed 34×17. It’s been stripped raw for some sweet patina then rattle canned with a clear coat and built with Paul, ENVE, Thomson, Hope, Garmin, Shimano XTR, CK, Chinese rims and exposure lights
BAGS:Porcelain Rocket, STEALTH and Cactus.
SLEEPING:light sleeping bag and a bivvy.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS / STRATEGIES: In case of an emergency a Dangle Supplies Ti Cob with some home grown and Stanley Hipster with Plantation Rum.
Instagram: @iroambybicycle
Phil Walter | 45 | Auckland
Steve Halligan | 44 | Hanmer Springs
EXPERIENCE: Numerous NZ brevets multiple times; Tour Aotearoa and Kiwi Brevet. Two Tour Divides 2017 and 2019 and the inaugural Terra Australis Bike Epic in 2018.
BIKE: I have a Brand new Titanium bike from Binary Bicycles. Its the Havok frame and I’ve added a Rock Shox SID Ultimate front fork for this race. Shimano 1 x 11 with 40T chainring, Vittoria Mezcals 29er 2.25, SON Dynamo Hub with a Klite Bikepacker Pro front light and USB charger. I have a Sunsaver cache battery 10,000. Navigation: Wahoo with iPhone back up.
BAGS: All Apidura; Seatpack, Handlebar pack. 2 x Top Tube packs, 2 x Food Pouches, 1 x Downtube pack and 1 x packable Musette
SLEEPING: 4 hours per night. Outdoor Research Helium Bivvy, Thermarest Neo lite sleeping pad, Enlightened Equipment synthetic down Jacket , Pants and Beanie and a sea to summit lightweight pillow.
NUTRITION: I never work out Calories, I just make sure I have enough food that works for me and gets me through to the next resupply. Riding food is Salted nuts and plant based protein bars. I stopped drinking coffee in December but I do have some Electrolyte capsules that also have some caffeine.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS / STRATEGIES: I will be proudly wearing my orange Masaka Cycling Club Jersey in this race. I support and raise awareness for this small club form Uganda, Africa. Check them out! No Chamois cream, Luckily for me I have never used this stuff!!! I will ride into the dark and start again before the sun rises.
Website: Selfpropelled13.com Instagram: @halligan.steve
Rachel Berry | Hokitika
Pete Maindonald | 57 | Rotorua
BIKE:2015 Salsa El Mariachi Ti, Shimano XT 2×10, 100mm Rockshok SID, Easton Haven wheels with 2.25 Vittoria Mezcal front and rear.
SLEEPING: Zpacks Dyneema tarp.
OTHER GEAR: Minimal cooker. Lighting is a Fenix BC21, Lezyne Micro Duo and 2 x rear flashers. Navigation is Garmin Map 62 (backup- iHike APP on phone).
Olly Manson | 30 | Wanaka
EXPERIENCE: Tour Aotearoa etc.
BIKE: Kona Unit (steel) and Fox 32 110m forks with Shimano everywhere; allergic to Sram. 11 speed wide range 11-51t cassette with a 12 speed derailleur and 11 speed shifter #hack. absoluteBLACK 30t oval chainring and brakes are Shimano XT with 180mm rotors. Lights are a V2 kLite and Exposure Joystick for helmet, powered by a Son Dynamo. Tyres are Rekon Race 2.4 and grips are Ergon. The bike is completed with a splashing of purple anodised Hope parts
BAGS: Revelate, Apidura and Ortlieb.
SLEEPING:Outdoor Research bivy, Klymit mat and a Sea to Summit Spark 2 bag.
Ollie Whalley | 35 | Nelson
EXPERIENCE: Tour Divide winner and record holder 2012, Tour Aotearoa etc.
BIKE:I’m riding a Lynskey Ridgeline SL 29, my front wheel is a Shimano DH-UR708-3D dynamo hub on Light Bikes carbon rim and the rear is a Rohloff Speedhub 500/14 on No tubes Arch. Brakes and crankset are Shimano XT. Handlebars are Carver MyTi carbon and forks are X-Fusion Trace 120m. USB charge/light are kLite Ultra.
BAGS:The frame pack, chaff, handlebar roll and top tub garage are Bike Bad Dude with a Blackburn Outpost Elite saddle bag
SLEEPING: Titanium Goat Ptarmigan Bivy, Western Mountaineering HIghlite sleeping bag and Thermarest NeoAair XLite mat.
NUTRITION: Snickers bars
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS / STRATEGIES: Ground Effect clothing
Website: mountainpedalernz Instagram: @whalleyollie
Matt Quirk | 49 | Wanaka
EXPERIENCE: Kiwi Brevet, Tour Aotearoa, Navad 100 and lot’s of random bikepacking
BIKE: I’ve chosen my Salsa Woodsmoke, because that’s the bike I have! It has the biggest frame bag space, so that’s a plus…XT 30T Oval x 11-51, Vittoria Mezcal 29 x 2.35, SON 28, Sinewave Beacon, Supernova rear, small cache battery. Navigation: Garmin 530 / InReach Mini / iPhone backup with mapping
BAGS: Apidura small seat and bar bags, Apidura top tube, humungous Salsa frame bag, small packable pack for extras/overstuffing
SLEEPING: 6 hours per night, Tent, Sea to Summit Pillow because I’ll be wearing all my clothes!
NUTRITION: No Stove. My plan is to eat food. That is as far as my plan goes.
Martin Strelka | 33 | Nelson
EXPERIENCE: Winner of the Great Southern Brevet, the French Divide and the Bohemian Divide
BIKE: Vassago Optimus which arrived 40 hours before the start of the race, DVO Sapphire 130mm, Shimano XT 1×12 (34×10-50), XT brakes, 2.35 Ardent Race, dynamo front. Klite light&usb charger.
BAGS: Not many
SLEEPING: Nope
Hana Black | 49 | Lyttelton
EXPERIENCE: Great Kiwi Brevet, the Le Petit Brevet and the Tour Aotearoa. Bikepacking Alaska to Patagonia before Covid-19 forced an early return to New Zealand. 2018 Bikepacking.com Explorers of the Year
BIKE: Otso Voytek, Fox 34 SC, Watson Revelation Titanium, 1 x 12 Sram Eagle GX drivetrain, Wolftooth Oval 30T, 27.5 x 2.6 Vittoria Mezcal tyres
BAGS: Revelate Designs; Vole, Pronghorn front harness, Framebag, Magtank and Mountain Feed bags. Osprey Talon 11 backpack
SLEEPING: Big Agnes Scout Platinum 1 tent and Fussell UL quilt
OTHER GEAR: Biomaxa Pro-Ride chamois cream and Biolube
Website: highlux.co.nz, Maprogress interview Instagram: @beinghana
Mark Watson | 49 | Lyttelton
EXPERIENCE: Bikepacking Alaska to Patagonia with Hana Black
BIKE: Otso Voytek 27.5+ with 2.6 Vittoria Mezcals on Hope & DT Swiss alloy wheels. Fox 34 Step Cast fork. Sram XO & GX drivetrain with 10-50 cassette and 28t Wolftooth stainless chainring. Shimano Deore hydraulic brakes (2 & 4 piston). Watson Revelation Ti handlebar with 32 degree sweep and a couple of ancient Onza bar ends mounted as mini-aeros. Ergon GS1 grips. Selle Anatomica X2 saddle atop a Thomson Masterpiece seatpost with quick release for the steep and technical downhills.
BAGS: Revelate Designs bags throughout: Pronghorn front harness, 2 Mountain Feed Bags, Magtank 2000, framebag and 8L Terrapin. 9L Osprey backpack
SLEEPING: Macpac Pinnacle sleeping bag, Inflatable mat and Big Agnes Scout 1 Platinum micro tent
Website: highlux.co.nz, Instagram: @highluxphoto
Georgia Whitla | 32 | Nelson
EXPERIENCE: Mainly Expedition Adventure Racing – Godzone etc. Rogaine World Champion. Some multiday bikepacking trips.
BIKE: Scott Spark aka Sparkles. Maxxis icon 2.2. Sram XO1 groupset with 1×12 28T chain ring. No Dynamo – Nitecore headlamp x2 with 18650 cells for lighting.
BAGS: Revelate front and back. Rockbros frame bag. Robokiwi goodie bags
SLEEPING: Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 flysheet only, groundhseet, Rab Neutrino Pro 400 sleeping bag
OTHER GEAR: Etrex + topo on phone for Nav. Cooker, lots of freezedry and Ultimate Direction Fastpack for the hike-a-bike.
Dulkara Martig | 32 | Nelson
EXPERIENCE: Expeditions galore from mountains to sea. First bikepacking race.
BIKE: Yeti ARC TURQ series carbon. DT swiss M1700 Spline 25mm wheelset, Maxxis Ardent race tyre 29×2.35, Fox Factory 34 Fork, Shimano XT groupset. Ergon grips with bar ends and SQlab inner bar ends.
BAGS: Mostly Revelate bags (Harness & Egress Pocket, Mag-Tank 2000, 2 x Mountain Feedbags, Joey Downtube bag) and Apidura Expedition Saddle Pack 14L. Small backpack.
SLEEPING: Planning to rest a full 8hrs a night, I think. Outdoor Research Helium bivy, Thermarest NeoAir XLite sleeping pad, Montbell sleeping bag & down jacket.
OTHER GEAR: A pair of trail running shoes, which I might ditch in Tekapo. A 200 lumen front light & basic headtorch. Yes to a cooker – hot drinks & proper dehydrated meals will make me happier!
Website: dulkaramartig.co.nz Instagrams: @dulkara.martig, @untamed_aotearoa_podcast, @the_packrafting_podcast
Caleb Helkenn | 27 | Anchorage, Alaska
EXPERIENCE: No experience with Ultra Endrance bikepacking. Two long road/gravel tours in Alaska. One shorter (100 mile) one day mtb race.
BIKE: XL Why Cycles S7 version 1. Have a pretty big riser stem on it and some forward/backward swept handlebars for increased comfort. SQ labs inner bar ends. It was an ex demo bike when I bought it and came with a DVO Diamond fork. Never replaced it so I’ll be running that for the race! Sram Eagle 10-50t cassette and 30t chainring, Maxxis Ardent Race 2.35, One 10,000mAh cache battery. One Lezyne Macro Drive 1300XXL and a BD Ion Headlamp Two rear lights
BAGS: Full Revelate bags from the front to the back. Medium sized Pronghorn with an Egress Pocket, One feedbag, gas tank, and jerry can. XL ranger Frame bag, and Vole seat bag.
SLEEPING: 6 hours per night. OR Helium Bivvy, Old Marmot 0 degree sleeping bag and a Nemo ultralight sleeping pad.
NUTRITION: Calorie dense food for the long rough sections to keep weight down, and as much real food as possible through the sections where stores are a bit more frequent. I am taking a cooker so probably a freeze dried meal most every night when away from towns. Will avoid using the cooker in the morning though so no coffee! Electrolyte supplements for the heat. Riding food: Lots of savory foods this time around. Nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, and roasted beans and other pulses combined with bars and a few shotblocks for on the go food. Peanut M&M’s wherever available.
OTHER GEAR: Garmin Etrex 22x as primary with phone as backup. Using Gai Gps on the phone with NZ topp 50 maps downloaded. Typically don’t ride with a chamois, and I often wear a long sleeve button down shirt because it’s functional with chest pockets, and stylish when you get into town. Also I like to be contrary and annoy the Lycra crowd.
I’ve recently installed a HSRS (Hi-Speed Retention System) on my upper lip to aid in some of the faster parts of the course. It works in a similar way to the way that the dimples on a golf ball work to keep the ball moving swiftly through the air. Or how the feathers of a peregrine falcon keep it on target as it dives towards its unwary prey at speeds in excess of 380km/h. Examples of such a system can be seen on the faces of Calvin Jones, Freddie Mercury, Groucho Marx, and Hulk Hogan.
Website: calebhelkenn.com Instagram: @tallleggyblonde
Mark Rayward | 52 | Nelson
BIKE: 2012 Giant Anthem 29’ with full Shimano XT groupset and Specialized Fast Trak 2.3 tyres.
SLEEPING: Rab Siltarp 2, 200gm down sleeping bag, a SOL emergency bivvy and an Exped pad.
OTHER GEAR: Rab synthetic down jacket, Rab Flash rain jacket, over trousers and Shimano ME7 shoes. SEO 7 head lamp, no stove, an enamel cup for heating water on fire. Navigation will be done on a cell phone with loaded maps and with paper maps on terrain where I’m pushing, no GPS. I’ll take 2 pairs of socks and a head net.
Ken Scott | Alexandra
Andrew Scott | 66 | Nelson
EXPERIENCE: 1 Kiwi Brevet, 3 xGSB, 1 TA, 1 Kopiko, 1 Mega Grind
BIKE: “Frank” the 2015 Cotic Soul 27.5 with XT groupset 3 x10. Wheels are Dt Swiss 30mm eyeleted rims, Hope pro2 hubs and tyres are 2.35 Maxxis Ikon on the front and 2.35 Vittoria Mezcal on the rear. Jones bars, no aeros. 120mm Reba fork.
BAGS: Revelate Terrapin rear seatbag, homemade framebag with 2liter bladder, old rodent chewed Revelate feed bags, revelate Mag Tank for tough camera, dry bag up front with homemade harness, Revelate Egress handbag on the front, Robokiwi cockpit bag. Empty 30 litre adventure racing backback to load up for long hike a bike sections.
SLEEPING: 6 hours per night, Tent, light compact down bag, light compact inflable mat, wear a lot of clothes
NUTRITION: Wing it. No Cooker. Electrolytes, nuts always, cheese, muesli bars, salami, peanut slabs. A few coffee bags and tea bags for campgrounds.
OTHER GEAR: USB helmet light – Leyzne Macro Duo, USB cateye rear, BD Storm headlamp. Waterproof 10000 Powerbank. For navigation, I have a Garmin Etrex 30x and Osm and on phone as backup. Course notes and resupply/accommodation on phone and hard copy.
Andrew Trevelyan | 55 | Christchurch
BIKE: Five year old Merida 9000 27.5 hardtail. RS-1 fork, XTR 2x groupset, DT Swiss wheelset. Maxxis Ikon 2.35 tyres for this rough course. Salsa Bend 23 degree sweep bars. Old Brooks B17 Imperial leather hammock of a saddle. Mix of bags. The foam taped to the downtube is for my carrying technique.
SLEEPING: Exped Synmat Hyperlite mat, 850 gram Intents Solutions double wall tent (or 450 gram Outdoor Research Helium Bivvy if weather looks favourable.) Kathmandu Pathfinder sleeping bag
NUTRITION: No Cooker. De-hydrated meals reconstituted with cold water. Yuk!
OTHER GEAR: Cheap T6 LED headlight running off powerbanks and a 160 lumen headlamp. Garmin Etrex 22x for navigation.
Liam Crozier | 30 | Lyttelton
EXPERIENCE: No experience in the racing sense and none in the multi-day biking game. I have raced a few mountain bike events several years ago in NZ and in France but nothing serious. I stopped riding as there was too much kit involved and it was more stress to travel with that it was worth so I took up running. Moving back home to NZ I did the Le Petit Brevet last year and was one of the three finishers but my experience is in mountain running and doing stupid things with a blissful amount of ignorance.
BIKE: Ibis DV9, Shimano XT rear wheel/Son and DT Swiss front with Vittoria tyres. XT groupset with Deore rear mech (34T front chainring/46 tooth rear cassette), Passchier Bamboo handlebar, SID Ultimate fork (120mm), One Up V2 dropper, XT touring pedals, Profile Designs aero bars and a not-so-ideal Specialized saddle. SON Dynamo and Klite Bikepacker Ultra light (gravel version).
BAGS: Small front and rear bags for maximum downhill fun, Apidura for the most part and a custom saddle bag from Stealth Bike Bags to remind myself to not take this shit so seriously, its just a bike ride.
SLEEPING: 4 hours per night. Sea to Summit Spark SP1 (older version), down vest for extra insulation, Thermarest Neoair (3/4 length), some terrible sleeping bag liner as I am too lazy to clean my bag regularly. Custom bivy/sleeping bag cover with a few features that make it better for NZ climates
NUTRITION: Food generally made by me for specific nutrition reasons. Avoid vegetable oils and refined sugars. No Coffee, not a fan but I do like it with dark chocolate. Extra caffeine that way too and no milk. Banana/peanut butter with nuts and seeds and stuff/cinnamon in a wrap for a quick snack that is the best.
OTHER GEAR: Some custom gear I have made helps and an Outdoor Research sun hoody for the win. Navigation: a borrowed Etrex 30 and a phone if shit gets bad or I need a better map/screen. Cork massage ball and a Ultraspire running vest for easy access to gear and to keep weight off the bike.
Brian Anderson
Brendan Pheasant | 38 | Napier
EXPERIENCE: 2x Great Southern Brevet, Kiwi Brevet, Tour Aotearoa,
BIKE: Niner SIR9, RDO fork and Shimano XT groupset
BAGS: Robokiwi & Revelate bags with a bivvy bag
Website: bikingpheasant.com Instagram: @bpheasant
Amanda Wells | Wellington
BIKE: Surly Ogre with a Rockshox Reba fork. 29″ wheels; DT Swiss rear and PD dynamo front. Maxxis Ikon tyres; 2.20 rear and 2.35 front. Shimano componentry, yes a triple (22x30x40, 11-36t). Profile Design T3 aerobars, Salsa Bend handlebar with ESI grips, Catalyst pedals and a Specialized Power Mimic saddle.
BAGS: Revelate bags, custom Stealth frame bag
OTHER GEAR: Tent fly, tiny gas cooker and straps to carry bike!
Patrick Higgins | 33 | Nelson
EXPERIENCE: Expedition Adventure Racing – Godzone’s and AR World Champs. Monster Energy Holeshot winner CXNT Round 1, 2018.
BIKE: Kona Big Kahuna, Fox 34SC, 1×11, Maxxis Ikons, Revelate and Robo-Kiwi Bags
NUTRITION: Toast