The two-hour challenge, held at Tamworth Bike Park on Forest Rd, had 63 competitors, with mountain bikers from Tamworth, Moree, Narrabri, Gunnedah, Armidale, Newcastle and the Blue Mountains.

Bekkers, who is from Queensland but is currently working in Tamworth, was one of three cyclists to complete eight laps in just over two hours.

Earlier this year he won the Kona Hidden Valley 24-hour solo ride in Queensland.

Armidale’s Holly Harris, who’s an Australian under 19 mountain biking champion, was also one to watch on Sunday.

Ride coordinator Daniel Raffaele said the challenge was designed as a fitness challenge rather than a race.

“Some people took it very seriously and others had a social afternoon ride,” Raffaele said.

“We’re trying to introduce as many people to the sport as possible.”

Sunday’s challenge was also a training run for the Keepit Real 100 bike ride, to be held at Lake Keepit on August 31.

Raffaele said three rides would be held over 100km, 50km or 30km, with $6000 in prize money and $12,000 in giveaways up for grabs.

“We’ve got people registered from all over Australia because it’s a serious race and there’s a lot of prize money.

“We have about 200 registered but we’re expecting about 500 cyclists.”

The next two-hour fitness challenge will be held at Tamworth Bike Park in September.