BikeManawatu & Central Hawkes Bay Interclub 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.

A typical windy winter’s day last Saturday over at Pahiatua saw nearly 40 riders turn out for the Bike Manawatu/Central Hawkes Bay Interclub race. A sealed handicap meant that it was a mass start, and as usual, the right to left wind down the main road created carnage right from the word go.

A split quickly developed where about a dozen of the more experienced and stronger riders lapped out whilst the rest were left in a string down the road. A small group of three, including the form riders of Nate Levin, national champ Alex West, Robert Stannard, and Neil Martin then attacked off the front of that group to quickly create an 80m lead. Steve Stannard bridged just before the gap got too big, but paid for that effort on the first hill, where he was dropped going over the top. With Nate paying the price of some hard training, Robert, Neil and Alex pulled away.

In the end Robert was the strongest up the final climb to the finish, out sprinting Neil, with Alex just behind. Steve came in some 3 min behind the leaders. Hayden Washington Smith showed his class (and potential), by out powering Ross Rainham to be the first of the next finishing group on the final climb.

Some notable rides by Cameron Huston, next group, and Frazer Allen who apparently had most of the rest of the bunch swinging on his wheel for the last 15 km.

Thanks to Kevin Laskey (of Laskey Cycles) and the local constabulary for making the race and safe and successful event