NZ Cycle Classic
The hugely anticipated NZ Cycle Classic is here! The Teams are arriving and the event starts with a 7.1km ITT around Old West Rd on Wednesday, starting at 2:30pm.
Local team realistic about their chances
Being realistic in their expectations will be a point of focus for the small number of Bike Manawatu riders who will compete in the NZ cycle classic next week as a part of Team Massey. Bike Manawatu riders will form the nucleus of Team Massey that includes ex professional cyclist Steve Stannard, who now heads Massey’s School of Sport and Exercise and up and coming U23 riders Matiu Kaihau and Max Annear-Henderson. According to Steve, as the team’s leader, their primary objective will be to get someone on the podium during the stage races. “Based on the quality of the field the competition will be stiff, especially in the U23 category where Michael Vink and Josh Aitken have dominated recently”, he said. “We are unlikely to win the tour but for us this is more about developing our junior riders in a competition with world class national and international riders”.
Remembering Dave Bennett
Tonights Pedal Pushers ride was a an opportunity for the cycling friends of Dave Bennett to pay their respects.
From the Stuff Website: More than 100 cyclists gathered in Palmerston North tonight to pay their respects to the late Dave Bennett with a memorial ride in his honour. Read more
Upcoming Time Trials
A time trial is a good test of a cyclist’s ability. It is you racing the clock. No hiding in a bunch, no sharing the work to get to the finish. It is an honest event where very often success is measured by personal bests rather than winning events.
A 40 km time trial is a kind of gold standard for time trialists. The distance is a genuine challenge and riding close to or under an hour is a significant achievement for most riders.
Upcoming time trials within reasonable driving distance that I am aware over the summer months are listed below. Most of the 40km time trials are run by the Wellington Veterans Cycling Club, but I note that BikeManawatu has snuck one in as well. The events attract a small entry fee. Several riders from the Manawatu ride the Wellington events each season.
The time trials programmed for this year are:
BikeNZ Road and Track Cyclist of the Year Awards
The development of star track cyclist Jesse Sergent into a world class road rider was honoured at the BikeNZ Road and Track Cyclist of the Year Awards in Christchurch last night.
The 23 year old won the honour of Male Road Rider of the Year in a special function. He is one of six riders to receive awards. They included world championship medallist Linda Villumsen awarded female road rider of the year, world championship silver medallists Shane Archbold and Alison Shanks won the male and female track riders of the year, North Harbour’s James Oram is the best emerging talent while veteran Julian Dean was voted the People’s Choice Award.
Sergent, a silver medallist at the world track championships, enjoyed a remarkable maiden season for the high profile Radioshack team on road cycling’s Pro World Tour in 2011. While the team’s supremo Johan Bruyneel did not over-burden the Feilding rider in his first year, Sergent showed his potential with three prologue victories at the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen, the Eneco Tour and Tour du Poitiou Charentes. He went on to claim the overall honours in the Belgium and French stage races.
Tour de Stannard 2011
On 28th December 2011 the Stannard family set off on an epic three day cycling tour through the back roads of the Manawatu and Rangitikei. This is their story….
Stage 1 Palmerston North to Marton (75km)
Steve has instigated a form of handicapping revolving around the carrying of our gear. The stronger members of the family (Steve and Robert) carry most of the gear in two rear panniers each, Elizabeth gets a back pack full of the days food supplies and Thomas has a camel back and race wheels. Katherine has not only two rear panniers, but is riding her mountain bike – not because she is stronger than Steve and Robert, but because she is least likely of the other three to burst into tears if she is left behind on the hills!