Cold conditions haven't been conducive to outdoor training but anyone planning on taking part in the 25th running of the Kepler Challenge needs to get their fingertips warmed up before entries officially open on Saturday.

Interest in the mountain race is traditionally keen, with places in the 400-strong 60km Challenge field normally filling within minutes of the online entry opening.

This year's entry process starts at 6.30pm on Saturday.

Race organisers were encouraging potential entrants to familiarise themselves with the event website, keplerchallenge.co.nz, before the rush begins. Because the event is staged in a national park, numbers are capped at 400 for the longer race and 150 for the 27km Luxmore Grunt.

Meanwhile, entries are now open for the second running of the 120km Milford Classic cycling event, to be held on January 26.

The inaugural event in January drew widespread praise, committee chairman Don McFarlane said.

"While the feedback from this year's competitors has been overwhelmingly positive, it's always important to look at any improvements that could be made, so we've made some minor tweaks to ensure the race gets both bigger and better."

As well as shifting from a midweek date to a Saturday, the finish line will be moved to the Te Anau lakefront, the 65km Eglinton Challenge will start an hour earlier and a 9pm cut-off will be introduced at Te Anau Downs.

"We really want the event to attract a good mix of recreational cyclists, who are out there challenging themselves with this race, and elite cyclists as well who are out there to win," McFarlane said.

"We had a great mix this year and next year we want the same, just bigger."

Entries are available online at milfordclassic.co.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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