Widespread interest is being shown for the inaugural New World Tour de Wakatipu mountain bike event, due to the innovative rural course, which will begin at Millbrook Resort and end in the vines at Chard Farm Winery.
The 45km Easter event has been added to the local sporting calendar by Southern Traverse.
Director Geoff Hunt said the company was responding to the ever-increasing demand for cycling events, both serious and recreational.
"What is good about this race is that anyone, at any level, can participate and make it as challenging as they want.
"We are getting a lot of feedback from people who will be competing in their first ever event, to elite riders and bikers who are making a comeback to competition."
From Millbrook, the course leads to Speargrass Flat Rd and over Slopehill Rd to a single track beside the Shotover River.
Bikers will travel across the restored Lower Shotover Bridge and join the Kawarau River Track via the Shotover Delta to another short section of single track.
The course then follows a short section of State Highway 6 to the privately-owned Kawarau River Rd on Coneburn Station, before finishing at Chard Farm.
Chard Farm's Rob Hay, a keen mountain biker, has been part of a group which has ridden the entire course and said it had fantastic variety.
"I love the start at Millbrook and throughout the ride there are some great views.
"What I particularly like is that the course makes use of some of the tracks prepared by the Wakatipu Trails Trust and people will be able to experience all the good work that has gone on over the last few years in this part of the district.
"I am looking forward to the finish at our winery."
Competitors will ride through the vines at Chard Farm to the finish line, where a "mini wine and food-style" event will take place.
The event will raise funds for Cure Kids, the foundation behind research into child health.
