K2 HISTORY

The event is named after Kuaotunu, an enchanting community on the wild eastern coastline of the Coromandel Peninsula. In Maori, the name Kuaotunu means “to inspire fear in young animals” ! The 2 represents the almost 200km that the ride will cover. By coincidence K2 is the 2nd highest, and probably the most difficult to climb, mountain in the World.

There are also the shorter distance Tineli K1 (106km) and Nicholas Browne Challenge (53km)  events and these two events have an E Bike category.

Every 4 years we run the K4, its just been so the next one will be in 2023. This is two laps of the main event and starts on the Friday evening.

At 2,300 metres of screaming descent, the Mito Q K2 is possibly the toughest one day cycle challenge in the Southern Hemisphere. It is also one of the most scenic and varied with the route travelling through sub tropical forest, pacific coastlines, rural farmland and the Pohutukawa coastline of the Hauraki Gulf.

ARC EVENTS

Keith and Rita Stephenson have been running sporting events since the 1980’s. They got together with Andy Reid in the year 2000 to form ARC events and to date have run 76 events together attracting over 30,000 competitors.

Early on, they formed the Spirit of Coromandel of Trust, whose aim is to support people, particularly youngsters, in experiencing the outdoors. 

The Trust has established a mountain bike park and pump track on the outskirts of Coromandel town and it's  ultimate aim is to establish an outdoor education camp on the Coromandel Peninsula.