Raglan’s finest gravel cycling event is returning on Sunday 27 July and the race is on to encourage more female riders.
After a four-year break, the Karioi Classic is back on track with founders Dirk De Ruysscher from the Cyclery Raglan and Lisa Thomson partnering with the Whāingaroa Raglan Destination Management Organisation (WRDMO) to run the event.
Local cyclist Anna Fisher is gearing up to enter the event again this year after falling in love with the ride in 2021.
“My first ride was on the last one and I absolutely loved it. Once I’d finished the ride, I thought – oh no, that was the last time and hopefully someone will pick it up,” she says.
“The Karioi Classic is really loved by the community, so it’s fantastic that it’s back on the calendar again. What I enjoyed about the event riding with lots of like-minded people of all ages, and everyone was encouraging each other.”
Anna has been cycling since she got her first bike – a Raleigh 20 – as an eight-year-old and has continued to jump on her bike for fun and for events like the Karioi Classic.
Before a knee replacement put paid to her running, Anna competed in triathlons and made the New Zealand team competing at the World Champs in 1990. “Six weeks before we were meant to go, I slipped a lower disc in my back and so, that was that,” she says.
Nowadays, Anna enjoys cycling the various mountain bike and cycle trails around the country, and she’s doing the Karioi Classic for fun rather than to compete.
“I’m looking forward to the people you meet on the ride and getting to some of those spots, like the drink station and the smiling faces of Dirk, Lisa and others who are there to support you. And then getting to the top of Te Toto and thinking – Ah, not far to go now, town’s just around the corner.”
WRDMO manager Jacqueline Anderson would love to get female riders in the saddle to experience the picturesque course – in past years around 15 percent of participants have been female.
“It’s an awesome opportunity to ride around the mountain knowing there are no cars and to enjoy the beauty of the scenery,” she says. “There are some great female riders out there who would do some cracking times on the course but it’s also an amazing event for women looking for a challenge and that sense of achievement.”
The Karioi Classic came to life in 2010 after Dirk and Lisa had run a number of sporting events, which included the Sea to Sand Triathlon series and Off Road challenges which took place at the Kokiri Centre.
Register at www.goraglan.com/events/karioi-classic-2025 and keep in the loop on socials @KarioiClassic
Karioi Classic: Register and win
Register and be into win some amazing prizes drawn each month in the lead up to the Karioi Classic.
April prize package
All females registered in April go into the draw for a Raglan Cyclery sponsored wahine cycling pack together helmet, gloves, glasses, drink bottle with nutrition products valued at $300
May prize package
May’s registrations go into the draw for a $500 accommodation voucher from Groundswell Property to use anytime for any property booking. Plus, anyone booking for the race weekend receives a 15% discount on accommodation.
Winners of April and May prizes will be announced in May.
Thanks to our monthly prize accommodation sponsors
March prize winner
Mark Vincett (rider #8) has won a package from the Raglan Holiday Park Papahua for two nights’ accommodation for two people in one of their tourist flat cabins valued at $360 (booking subject to availability).
For further event information contact Karioi Classic WRDMO Event co-ordinator Jacqueline Anderson jacqueline@raglanihub.nz
