Bridge closing for cyclists' challenge | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

Cyclists will have a new challenge next month with the first Ride the Rakaia race, a 103km circuit of the Rakaia River.

Organiser John Moore hopes to have at least 400 cyclists in the race on Saturday, March 3.

It will start with a massed crossing of the Rakaia State Highway bridge at 8am.

The race, for which The Star is a sponsor, will run from Rakaia township across the bridge and up the north side of the river to the gorge bridge and Mt Hutt station, then back via the south side to Rakaia.

Moore grew up in Rakaia and now lives in Ashburton.

"I always wanted to stage a race starting in Rakaia and travelling up through the Rakaia gorge and back to Rakaia," he said.

"But crossing the river bridge on State Highway 1 was always the challenge."

After long consultation with Opus and Transit NZ, approval was given for a closure of the bridge.

Entries can be made at www.ridetherakaia.co.nz and close on February 21.