Akers Rd Club Race

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.

Last Saturday was the first of the year’s club road races; a graded scratch race held at Akers Rd.
Conditions were excellent for racing, not being too windy or too hot on a flat, sometime exposed course.
The A grade field, though small completed each of their 7 km laps at over 40 km per hour, Robert Stannard winning in a sprint from Nate Levin. James Denholm was third. A combined B and C grade was the race of the day, with the various attacks coming to nought and a sprint finish resulted. Dale Nicholls was the winner, with a dead-heat for second between Fergus Washington-Smith and Thomas Stannard. In D grade, and impressive and comprehensive solo win by young Sam Perry meant that he’ll be riding C grade next time! Second and third were Kyra Craine and James Gardiner respectively. It was great to see some new young club members out there racing.

Next road race is the club championships time trial at Kairanga on the morning of Sunday 29th. Helpers are desperately needed on the day. If you can assist, please email Steve Stannard at s.stannard@massey.ac.nz