Junior Track Cycling World Championship Experience- Seoul Korea.

by Glenys Taylor | Dec 29, 2014 | News

This year I have been living the dream. In March I was selected in the Junior Worlds Track cycling team. I was based in Cambridge (Waikato) for a month before we flew to Seoul, South Korea for the Junior Track Cycling World Championships.

Living in one big house, with 13 male and female teenage cyclists for 5 weeks was a lot of fun – But it sure had its moments. Everyone was competitive, and everyone had the same goal in mind of getting on the podium in Korea. So the house was a bit like ‘survival of the fittest’ with no one wanting to do each others dishes and everyone wanting to scrounge off each others food.

In these circumstances I learnt a lot about budgeting for our weekly meals, how to fit in training, rest and looking after myself.

After 5 weeks we each learnt a lot about each other’s individual personalities, and made 13 life long friendships.

(more…)

Skoda Elite & U19 Track National Championships

by Glenys Taylor | Dec 22, 2014 | News

A reminder that entries to the Skoda Elite & U19 Track National Championships close on 5 January .

Please let your performance riders know and help them enter.  Information about entering and entry criteria is available at http://www.tracknationals.co.nz/elite-track/

Everyone at Cycling New Zealand wishes you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Final time trial results for 2014

by Glenys Taylor | Dec 22, 2014 | News

The lure of a drink and nibbles to celebrate the end of another successful season certainly didn’t bring the punters out. So it must have been that everyone was just too busy to come out to Kairanga and claim prizemoney. So next year there will be an even bigger prize pool thanks to unclaimed prizemoney being added back to next years pool.

The nibbles were enjoyed by the few that were present.

A special thanks was given to Bernie Richmond who for the whole of the series has been the turn marshal out on the course.

Click here for final results

Be the first to ride the Pedal the Plateau course!

by Glenys Taylor | Dec 22, 2014 | News

EVENT DATE SUN 22 MAR – SAT 28 MAR 2015

Be the first to ride the Pedal the Plateau course!
2015 marks the inaugural year of Pedal the Plateau and we are launching our fabulous new event with an exclusive Premier Ride.
On 22 March our Founding 50 riders will leave Taupo bound for the trip of a lifetime. From small beginnings come great things and in 2016 we will open the event to additional riders.

We have limited spaces left for next year’s Premier Ride, so if you would like to ride with our smaller group or just want to be one of the first 50 people to participate in Pedal the Plateau…sign up now!
Our ride includes six days in the saddle and a full rest day on the slopes of the Tongariro National Park World Heritage area. And you’ll sleep especially well those two nights at the famous Chateau Tongariro.
The entry fee of NZD $1975 includes eight nights of predominantly 4 star accommodation and three meals per day. You will also get to enjoy some of the many activities and attractions the stunning Central Plateau region offers along the way.  We look forward to hosting you on your bike in March!

Seven days, six legs, 365 km!
Click on the map to the left to see a larger version of our course map. The seven days of Pedal the Plateau include:
Day 1 – 88 km – Taupo to Whareroa
Day 2 – 83 km – Whareroa to Whakapapa Village
Day 3 – rest day – Whakapapa Village
Day 4 – 52 km – Whakapapa Village to Ohakune
Day 5 – 30 km – Ohakune to Waiouru
Day 6 – 64 km – Waiouru to Turangi
Day 7 – 49 km – Turangi to Taupo

There will be no nights in tents on this amazing ride!
Every night of Pedal the Plateau will be spent in predominantly 4 star accommodation.

Whareroa Village, Western Bays, Great Lake Taupo
Whareroa is a stunning lakeside retreat on the western side of Lake Taupo. This hidden gem provides a tranquil setting for you to relax in after your ride from Taupo on day one.
Weather permitting we will dine on the shores of the lake, and partake in some delicious local wines.

Chateau Tongariro, Whakapapa Village
The famous Chateau Tongariro is located at the gateway to the Tongariro National Park World Heritage site. Known for its timeless elegance and stunning surroundings it makes a great location for our rest day.

Wairakei Resort, Taupo
Located on the outskirts of Taupo, Wairakei Resort is where our riders will spend their first and last nights. 
Situated in park-like surroundings Wairakei Resort has a multitude of facilities for your enjoyment.

Powderhorn Chateau, Ohakune
Ohakune is an alpine village on the southern side of Mt Ruapehu and the Tongariro National Park. The Powderhorn Chateau provides a welcoming atmosphere full of warmth, charm and character. Riders will spend two nights at the Powderhorn Chateau, which is within walking distance of most Ohakune attractions.

Tongariro Lodge, Turangi
Located in beautiful park-like grounds on the banks of the Legendary Tongariro River on the Southern shores of Lake Taupo,Tongariro Lodge is the ideal getaway for Pedal the Plateau riders. 
If you’re a fly-fishing fan take a look at their photo gallery, and if you’re not have a look anyway as the area is stunning!

* Note:  Accommodation is subject to availability. Additional accommodation may be sourced in these locations.

It’s easy! All you need to do is click here or on the red button.
You’ll be taken straight to our registration page where you can submit your details and then make one simple credit card payment.
Or if you have any questions you’d like answered before registering, please drop us a line at admin@pedaltheplateau.com.

Enjoy a round of golf at New Zealand’s highest golf course!
There shouldn’t be any snow on the mountain in March, but the glorious scenery and the famous Chateau Tongariro will make a stunning backdrop to your leisurely round. Finish your day with a cold beer and some delicious food, then pop  across the road to the local pub for some live entertainment.

Something to add to your bucket list!
A day hike at World Heritage Tongariro National Park – well known as one of the top 10 single-day treks in the world. A great way to spend your ‘rest’ day next March. Not to be missed, this famous walk is easily booked with one of the experienced local operators.

Or for those who truly do want to rest…
Enjoy a delicious high tea at the Chateau Tongariro.
Or sit back, relax and enjoy a movie in the hotel cinema.

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook!
Get all the latest news and tips about the course, and we’ll share plenty of photos and information about the places you’ll see along the way.
Click on the Facebook link to join us.

Meet Mal Heron – from Townsville, Australia
Mal is looking forward to riding the Pedal the Plateau course on his Pocket Rocket. If you haven’t seen a Pocket Rocket before, check it out – produced by the Bike Friday team it is a travel bike designed to perform like your best road bike!
Mal is seen here celebrating at the Adelaide event village after riding in the Santos Tour Down Under.

Got a puncture? Need some help along the way?
Our experienced bike mechanic will be on hand every day to assist you when required. This includes being available at all our base locations and lunch stops.  
Or just plain run out of steam? We will have a sag wagon ready to assist…

Enjoy a refreshing swim in the crystal clear waters of the Great Lake Taupo.
Or grab some friends and a beverage and sit lakeside enjoying the stunning views on offer.

After a days riding, relax on the shores of Lake Taupo and enjoy a spot of fly fishing.
Or if you’re a morning person, there’s no better way to start the day than watching the sun rise while chasing the elusive rainbow trout.

Ride Ohakune’s Old Coach Road and visit the historic Hapuawhenua Viaduct.
Or wander through the charming Ohakune township, seeing the sights and enjoying the local hospitality.

Remember the Anzacs at the National Army Museum
2015 marks the 100^th anniversary of the battle at Gallipoli, where the ANZAC’s (Australia New Zealand Army Corp) came into being.
Coinciding with Pedal the Plateau, the National Army Museum Te Mata Toa will be staging a number of stunning exhibitions centred on the campaigns of World War 1.
ANZAC troops in the trenches at Gallipoli by courtesy of the National Army Museum.

Have a long, hot soak.
After 7 days of riding there can be no better way to relax than in a rejuvenating thermal pool.

There are plenty of activities and things to do in the Central Plateau region!  Click below to find out more
What to do in Great Lake Taupo
Visit Ruapehu
Other biking trails to explore
Events happening in the region

Update from Simon van Velthooven

by Glenys Taylor | Dec 22, 2014 | News

SIMON VAN VELTHOOVEN

Cambridge 2014

Since moving back to NZ from Japan in September earlier this year all I can say is that it has been awesome. Training in this town is much ‘easier’ in regards to the facilities and the coaches available but I can tell you now – the efforts themselves are much harder and every session has all the i’s dotted and t’s crossed.
Once arriving into the country I had to crack straight into the Class 1 race that each country has to hold in order for their riders to qualify for Worlds and Olympics.
It was good to come straight from Japan with all the racing and travelling and then post a good 200m time and end up 4^th in match sprints and win the Keirin the following night.

After the Commonwealth Games my coach Anthony and I had a quick debrief. Coming second in the Kilo TT without a PB time and a very mediocre performance in the Keirin we decided the bottom line was that I was not tracking upwards like the other guys in the team were. The simple answer to it was that I needed to stay put in one place and do a proper training block to get my base strength back to where it used to be in 2012. This meant I was in for a whole lot of squats and track work, which I have loved every minute of. I do find it difficult to sleep at night when I feel I have not trained hard enough to satisfy my needs to beat the best in the world.  Many times the light was out at8.30pm!
Even though the best thing for me was to stay at home and train I still felt very left out when the team departed for the London World Cup.  It was talked up to be the test event for most countries leading into the World Champs in February so was to have stiff competition. The last time I raced a World Cup in London was at the Olympic Test event in February 2012. I made the Keirin final which had riders not too different to the final at the Games, but more importantly afterwards I stood outside in the crisp winter air and told myself over and over that you were good enough to win a proper medal here in August, and you will smash World Champs in Melbourne in a couple of months to justify your spot in the Olympic Team.

So yeah it would have been nice to compete in a big race on a velodrome that holds so many good memories, but I just had to keep my mouth shut and look after the small things so when the time comes the big things will look after themselves.

Not all is lost because in January after the training block has finished and the tapering has been done I will race the third World Cup in Cali, Colombia where the World Champs were held in February this year where we won the Team Sprint and I placed third in the Kilo TT.  Hopefully my legs will be thumping so I will produce some good results (win) and feed my desire to stand on that top dais!
The training has been going well – I am squatting over 200kg and pumping out seated kilometre time trials around 1.04 pace which is not too shabby on drops and spoke wheels.  There is still a little more training to do where we need to bale all this strength up and somehow convert it to speed on the track so wish me luck!

Thank you for your ongoing support over the year. I hope you have a great Christmas and very sunny New Year.

Regards,
Simon van Velthooven