About

TORQ Events is the passion project of Carl Wells - a place to bring his creative and competitive cycling events to life.

 

It all started with a series of Strava-art charity group rides in 2017, including the Laser Kiwi and the Big Cock Ride.  The Auckland Hill Climb Series was launched in 2019, and has grown and spread to Wellington, Taupō, and Cambridge.  The ultimate lockdown project was the 2021 VAM Challenge with riders taking part all across the country and the world.  2023 and 2024 saw the invention of the Wildcat - a wacky yet competitive team checkpoint race.  

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Carl emigrated from Boston in 2007 to play French Horn with the Auckland Philharmonia.  The discovery of Auckland's wild and scenic roads lured him into cycling and all the endorphins, suffering, and community that make it great.  Currently he is spending the year in Toronto.​