Contact Epic is the latest of a series of events to be cancelled in the last week due to the Omicron outbreak. 

Warbirds over Wānaka was cancelled on Monday, and by Thursday organisers of Challenge Wānaka and Aspiring Conversations had made the decision to call off those events as well. 

Contact Epic race director Aaron Nicholson said it was very disappointing the annual mountain bike race cannot go ahead “but once competitor, volunteer and community safety was considered, it was the obvious decision that needed to be made.”

The Contact Epic was due to take place on April 2.

“We acknowledge that the adventure and racing opportunity loss will be felt by our competitors,” Aaron said.

The annual mountain bike ride gives riders a once-a-year opportunity to circumnavigate Lake Hāwea by bike, passing through the Hunter Valley and Dingle Burn high country stations.

“Significant community fundraising along with the general economic benefits events like this brings to the business sector will also be lost. 

“But overall, the health and wellbeing of all in our community takes precedence.”

In the once-a-year race cyclists in the 125km ‘Epic’ category ride through Hunter Valley and Dingle Burn high country stations on an undulating and varied course featuring river and stream crossings, and lots of short climbs and long descents. 

The 95km ‘Classic’ category is on the same course as the ‘Epic’ and the 160km ‘Centurion’ race takes competitors on the Epic with an extra 35km into the remote elements of the Hunter Valley.

Contact Epic took place in 2021 but in 2020 it had to be cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Aaron said he sees this year’s cancellation “as a chance to make the event even bigger and better for 2023”.

PHOTOS: Supplied