Bike Manawatu School Cycling Results – 26.08.12 – RR -Ashhurst

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.

The gravel Classic lived up to its name with a fantastic challenge to riders, a few punctures but overall the feedback from riders was really positive. We will use the track again and recommend it as a club event. Thanks to Ashhurst School parents for marshaling on the course and Ross Castle for dreaming up the track – I think we are onto something special here as the mix of road and gravel will enhance our riders overall bike handling skills. Great turnout with nearly 50 riders, this bodes well for the future of cycling in Manawatu.

A grade split up into a 2 rider race with Nate Levin and Chris Denholm battling it out alone on the last lap, with a sprint finish going to Nate, followed by a group of 3 riders 1 minute back.

The B grade saw plenty of riders not finish due to mechanicals and punctures – it was the new kid on the block Luke Mudgways time to demonstrate his power racing on a mountain bike to head off Carne Groube and Cameron Huston.

C Grade saw the group spread out far & wide up Ulysses Road, leaving Gorgi van Lienen and Libby Arbuckle to lap it out, with Libby proving to strong on the way home to finish ahead of Gorgi. The real race was for 3rd position with Thomas Stannard, Dineth Rajapakse and Dan Kendall battling it out to hit the line at the same time. Some great results in this grade and all riders continue to make excellent progress, a good opportunity to acknowledge Max Cousins who demonstrates huge commitment to training and is improving week by week.

Good luck to the PNINS & Ashhurst riders competing in Taupo this week at the North Island Intermediate Schools cycling Champs – I am sure we will see some medals come home to Manawatu.

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