The gut-busting Contact Epic bike race is back for 2023, promising dramatic views, challenging terrain and a brand new race. 

One of two “big changes” for this year’s race, which will take place on April 1, is a new, e-bike friendly participation event aimed at beginner to intermediate riders, race director Aaron Nicholson said.

“This is the Dingle Burn Dash and it is a 65km ride from Hāwea out to the Dingle Burn Station and back,” he said. 

It may not sound like an easy ride, but compared to the other races - the 95km ‘Classic’, the 125km ‘Epic’ and the mammoth 160km ‘Centurion’ - it makes for a lighter day out.

The race also features a 95km ‘Classic’, 125km ‘Epic’ and 160km ‘Centurion’.

Aaron said Dingle Burn Dash riders can “enjoy the remote tea and scone pop-up cafe at the station for as long as they want, soak up the fantastic scenery, and watch the elite riders race through the station before heading back to the Hāwea township at their leisure”.

Contact Epic gives cyclists a once-a-year opportunity to 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. 

This year competitors in the Epic category (the event’s most popular) will have it a little easier: There is a “significant change to the traditional course”.

“...A 20km section of new single track is being utilised between Green Bush Hut and the Dingle Burn Station that takes out quite a few hills on the back half of the full 125km course,” Aaron said. 

After numerous cancellations due to Covid-19 in recent years, organisers are excited for the Contact Epic to be back this year, Aaron said. 

The mountain bike event has been running since 2008 and it attracts 600-800 riders from New Zealand and Australia each year.

Find more information about the upcoming Contact Epic or sign up here.

PHOTOS: Supplied