Pioneer Stage Six - Snow Farm beckons

Lake Hawea to Snow Farm

Distance: 64 km

Elevation: 2077m

"It's just 64km, it should be really easy!"

I can't remember who said this at dinner last night, but while on the bike today, the ignorance of such a statement was astounding.

Each morning riders seem to lose some spring in their step, and here on the 6th day of The Pioneer mountain bike stage race, we were all slow to start. I was grateful that overnight rain stopped before I needed to get up to walk to breakfast. Or more accurately, to the Allpress coffee van, and then to breakfast.

We had 64km ahead, mostly flat for the first 35km, winding through the Deans Bank singletrack at Wanaka, before we ascended to Snow Farm – up a mighty climb.

On the trail

"Make sure you stay on the left of the centre line!"

That's a great point for rider safety, but really when the Spaniards are trying to line it out on the right hand side of the gravel road, you ride where you can to stay out of the wind.

Given the flat nature of the start, the front group was mostly lined out as we headed towards the trails, and the funnels started with the first gate we had to squeeze through. But it all stayed pretty sensible, until we were on the bandit trails along the road to access Deans Bank. The dips really stretched the elastic, and groups split.

I was lucky enough to ride Deans Bank behind Kate Fluker and Mark Williams, who aren't quite local, but know the trails, and know how to ride a bike! It's the best singletrack in the race by far, and a real highlight, twisting through the trees, and descending through the berms that have been baked hard in the sun.

But today really was about battling to Snow Farm, the climb dominating the profile.

With 5 days of racing in the legs, there was an audible groan as each rider and their bike hit the ascent. Looking back to the right after a few kilometres, Lake Wanaka spread beyond the town, skirted by big mountains, some of which we had crossed on previous days.

The ascent to Snow Farm isn't a case of pointing up hill. It's a rough farm track (not that we have seen any farmers, as Cyclist Magazine's Alex Malone pointed out) plus rough aquaduct trail contouring around the slope.

The final 15km is constant rolling terrain, with teams pushing each other to get to the finish, hoping it would arrive. The ridgeline we raced along enjoys immense views, but also so much nothing. That's one of the things about The Pioneer, is how much nothing there is in the South Island. As an Australian, you get used to the void that nothing creates. The silence, the vastness of terrain that is the same but unique. The rolling tussock grass covered slopes continue and often it's just you and your team mate, as the gaps on race stages can become quite large.

This nothing must be unsettling for people from highly populted areas. It doesn't play on the mind, but if you're feeling low, the sense of isolation could get overwhelming.

That said, as soon as that could start to settle in today, you were likely to spot Snow Farm Lodge. And then, after the longest final kilometre, you make it there, to the warmth of the lodge.

The two leading teams crossed together today, calling a 'truce' 5km out. The Rush brothers are riding separetly, and smashing it. We rolled in for 4th, and for the most part there were no category changes.

Full results are online.

Snow Farm vibes

Snow Farm is cold. We are at over 1500m, but the sun is warm, the lodge is open and so is the bar. One last hurdle remains, but the final stage is no parade. What looks like a downhill day hides close to 2000m of climbing, so rest-assured no one will arrive in Queenstown fresh.