2012 Oceania Track Champs – Video Highlights

Despite the current ‘cost of living challenges’ facing all community events, Bike Manawatu is 100% committed to ensuring the 51st year of the Novice Tour – once again provides a safe, fun, competitive cycle racing event.

We will adopt a high-quality assured approach in implementing the Local Roading Authority’s/Cycling New Zealand’s ‘Safe Traffic Management System’ (STMS) standards which ensure best practices and rider and spectator safety.

If the level of community funding secured is not sufficient to contract in external road management service providers with the ability to stop/go traffic, the Novice Tour will proceed on a ‘local club racing’ model, whereby our team of trained/experienced road marshals will, where necessary, pause racing in order to give way to traffic and ensure rider safety.

Although funding external road management services with the ability to stop/go traffic is ideal, if this is not feasible – we are confident that the event’s ‘Safe Traffic Management System’ (STMS) will provide a competitive, fair, enjoyable and importantly safe racing environment.

Irrespective of which model of traffic management/racing is finalised, as with all CNZ/Bike Manawatu events, normal road rules will apply and a full rider briefing confirming the event rules will be provided to all riders prior to the start of each race.

Jesse Sergent and Simon van Velthooven, whose cycling pedigree was developed through Bike Manawatu’s founding clubs – Feilding and Marist, are doing exceptionally well at the 2012 Oceania Track Champs, currently being held in Invercargill.

Both Jesse and Simon have collected a number of gold’s between them and they now hold the NZ Individual Pursuit and NZ Kilo record respectively. For Jesse, his performance anchored the NZ Team Pursuit win which also resulted in a new NZ record.

Simon also went on to win a closely fought Kieran final in what was described as one of the most exciting races seen in a long time.

For proud father and Bike Manawatu Chairperson, Paul van Velthooven, being on hand to watch his son is definitely something special.

While Jesse’s selection for the NZ track team appears assured, Simon’s chances of being selected have increased tenfold. Seen as a Kieran rider only, his individual and team performances at Oceania’s have widened his selection potential further and its likely to create headaches for the NZ selectors. Bike Manawatu congratulates both Jesse and Simon on their performances at Oceania Track Champs and we look forward to their inclusion into the NZ Olympic Squad for 2012.

Video Highlights

For those interested in watching highlights, Cycling Southland has pasted video highlights on their web http://www.cyclingsouth.org.nz/index.php?pageLoad=208