Gale winds for the Taupo Challenge

Lake Taupo looks more like the ocean than a lake today ©RoadCycling.co.nz

Nov 26th, 11. Gale force winds overnight in Taupo did not make for a restful sleep for the 9,000 participants in the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge - unfortunately those winds are still at their worst today.

There is even a Met Service "severe weather warning" in place.

At this morning's 6:45 elite and 7:00 solo start, the chatter was all about the wind.

From the top pro-cyclists to the weekend warriors, no one was looking forward to 4+ hours on a bike in these conditions.

Organisers were warning of possible debris on the roads and, somewhat unrealistically given the size of the field, suggesting riders should not ride in bunches unless they were very experienced.

It was not just the Aucklander's concerned about the wind though, many Wellington riders were also saying this wind is far worse than they are used to. 

Wellington riders Chanelle Kean, Julia Hudson and Anna Taylor ©RoadCycling.co.nz

The wind is expected to die off during the day, which is welcome news for the relay riders who start later, but not what the early riders want to hear.

After battling the wind around the back side of the lake they had hoped to at least have the benefit of a tail wind up the Hatepe Hill on the way back to Taupo.

Anyone who has ridden the lake before knows it's all about bragging rights concerning your time - and unfortunately these conditions are unlikely to produce stunning times.

If you think riding 160km in these conditions is tough, spare a thought for all the enduro riders who were riding all last night in these gale conditions.

At 7am this morning, one rider was already on his 9th lap! Nick Dunne is attempting to ride around the lake 10 times in honour of his father Dan who passed away 10 years ago.

The first riders expected across the finish line today are the elite women who started at 7am this morning for a 100km race from Taupo to Turangi and back.   

See ... Ten laps around Lake Taupo

Keen riders ready to battle the wind ©RoadCycling.co.nz