Friday – Prologue (Evans Pass TT)

Short. Steep. Honest.

The tour opens with a classic prologue up Evans Pass — a pure individual time trial that sets the tone and stretches the field early.

Key details

• Location: Evans Pass
• Distance: 3.08 km (full course for all grades)
• Registration opens: 5:00 pm
• First rider start: approx. 6:00 pm
• Race format: Individual Time Trial

Prologue Equipment Regulations

The Prologue is a road time trial designed to be simple, fair, and accessible.

• Road bikes only
  Standard road bikes with drop handlebars are permitted.
• No time trial bikes
  TT bikes, clip-on aero bars, or non-standard extensions are not allowed.
• Standard road helmets only
  No aero / time trial helmets of any kind. Helmets must comply with Cycling New Zealand regulations for road racing.
• Standard road equipment
  Wheels, frames, and clothing must be consistent with normal road race use.

Saturday – Loburn Stages

Race Central: Loburn School

Saturday is about rhythm and resilience. Loburn delivers repeated efforts, exposed roads, and the kind of racing that quietly breaks riders before they realise it’s happening.

Stage 2 – Morning Road Race (Loburn)

Start time: 9:00 am

Distances

U15: 2 × 17 km laps – 34 km

U17 / Women B / Men D / Men C: 3 laps – 51 km

Women A / Men B / Men A: 4 laps – 68 km

Stage 3 – Afternoon Road Race (Loburn)

Start time: 1:00 pm

Distances

U15: Turn at the top of the climb – 36 km

All other grades: Full out-and-back – 58 km

Fatigue starts to talk in Stage 2. Teams come into play. Riders without patience get found out.

Sunday – Cust Stages

Race Central & Prize giving: Cust Hotel

Sunday is decisive. Whatever the GC looks like overnight, it will not look the same by 4:00 pm.

Stage 4 – Morning Road Race

Start time: 9:00 am

Distances

U15: 1 lap – 36 km

All other grades: 2 laps – 72 km

This stage rewards control and discipline. Let the wrong move go and the cost is paid later.

Stage 5 – Final Road Stage

Start time: 1:00 pm

Distances

U15: Turn at the top of German Road – 40 km

All other grades: Full out-and-back – 70 km

The final chance to move the General Classification. No hiding. No tomorrow.