Bicycle Network chief executive Craig Richards said the amount the event brought to the economy was nearing $1 million.

“We want to keep people coming back to Orange and it’s reputation as a place to ride is increasing,” he said.

Cyclists had the option of a 70-kilometre ride from Orange to Canowindra, a 100-kilometre ride from Canowindra to Orange or a marathon 170-kilometre loop in hot, but wind-free conditions.

Alex Malone and Dan Bonello, both from Sydney, won the 170-kilometre trek, finishing in four hours and 36 minutes despite a puncture to one of Mr Bonello’s tyres about 10 kilometres outside Mandurama.

“We’re good mates and when you’re riding with other people, you can really push each other,” Mr Malone said.

Fellow Sydneysiders Peter McSwiggan and Colin Carrigan were also early finishers, arriving at the Moulder Park Velodrome in a time of four hours and 45 minutes.

“It was good finishing at the velodrome, it had a European feel,” Mr McSwiggan said.

Brodie Chapman, who won the Herald Sun Tour last month, joined forces with three riders from the Northern Beaches and said the key was choosing the right group to ride with.

“You don’t want to be caught alone,” she said. 

“Anyone can do the distance, it’s just about being comfortable on the bike for that long and you need to eat more than you probably think and drink more than you probably think.”

The Newcrest Challenge was part of her training before she travels overseas to join the TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank team, the longest-running professional women's cycling team in North America. 

The Bicycle Network also held a children's ride on Saturday, with up to 20 children involved.​

Clare Allen said she had been riding for three months and enjoyed it.

“I like riding because you get to go fast,” she said. 

“I ride my bike to school every day.”

The five-kilometre loop around Orange’s bike lanes raised money for Give Me 5 For Kids and catered for the children whose parents were due to ride during Sunday’s events.