From Taupō to Sydney and back again

What started with a Taupō Intermediate relay ride has come full circle.

For Emily Irvine, the 2026 Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge is a bit of a homecoming.

Emily grew up in Taupō and first took part in the Cycle Challenge while at Taupō Intermediate, riding as part of a relay team. Fast forward a few years and she’s now based in Sydney, where she’s a Rapha Sydney Ride Leader and part of a thriving community of women who ride, race and spend plenty of time on two wheels together.

This November, Emily is bringing 13 of them back to Taupō to take on the challenge.

The crew includes women originally from Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Germany and the UK. For some, it’ll be their first trip to New Zealand. For others, their longest ride yet.

We caught up with Emily to find out how the trip came together and what the crew is looking forward to most.

You grew up in Taupō and first rode the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge while at Taupō Intermediate. What do you remember about that experience, and what does it mean to be coming back now?

I grew up in Taupō and first rode the Cycle Challenge at Taupō Intermediate as part of a relay team. It was my first introduction to longer-distance riding, and I remember it being such a cool, social and well-organised event. Riding around the lake, the incredible scenery and finishing in the town centre made it really special. It’s pretty cool to be coming back years later with a group of friends.

Where did the idea of bringing a group of women from Sydney and beyond to the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge come from?

A few of us wanted to do a big cycling event together, and since I'm from Taupō, the Cycle Challenge seemed like the perfect reason to bring everyone over to New Zealand. For a few of the girls, it’ll also be their first time visiting New Zealand.

As a Rapha Sydney Ride Leader, you’re passionate about getting more women riding. Why is creating that community around cycling so important to you?

I love seeing women from all different backgrounds and levels getting into cycling and racing. A welcoming, supportive community can really lower the barrier to entry and give people the confidence to get involved. It’s great to be part of growing that community and bringing it back to New Zealand too, where we have some incredible rides and an inspiring community of women cyclists.

What would you say to other women, or groups of mates, thinking about taking on the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge?

It’s such a unique way to experience Taupō and appreciate just how huge the lake is! There’s incredible scenery, lots of people to ride with and a really fun atmosphere, making it a great challenge to take on with your mates.

MEET THE CREW

The Rapha Sydney Gals heading to Taupō are Anina Atkinson, Athena Churchill, Cait Williamson, Emily Brown, Emily Irvine, Kimberley Fehringer, Lee Boon, Louisa Rieger, Megan Tiong, Natalia Ramirez, Wensy Ng and Zoe King. We put a few questions their way as well.

Where are you from, where are you based, and how did you get into cycling?

We have people in the group from Australia and New Zealand, as well as Chile, Germany and the UK. Most of us are now based in Sydney, and we’ve all come to cycling through different paths, including racing, triathlon, friends and the wider cycling community.

What convinced you to say yes to coming to New Zealand for the Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge?

We loved the idea of combining a big cycling challenge with a trip to New Zealand and doing it together as a group. For some of the group, it’ll also be their first time visiting New Zealand, which makes it even more special!

What do you love most about riding and being part of this group of women?

The social side is a huge part of it. When you’re doing long rides during the week and on weekends, having your friends there makes the kilometres go so much quicker and makes it more enjoyable. We also love pushing each other, whether that’s in a race or on a long ride.

Are you coming to Taupō with a goal in mind – a time to chase, a mate to beat, or simply to soak up the experience?

For most of us, it’s about soaking up the experience and having a really fun day together. For some, it’ll be their longest ride yet, so the goal is to have a smooth, consistent day and enjoy it.