Day 5 – The Pyrenees

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.

After a visit to Chareau Pau, and a guided tour, we decided to roughly follow the course of yesterdays stage. Pau – Lourdes.
Following the route we went over the Col d’Aubisque.

That really gives you the feeling of being in the high mountains. The Pyrenees are surprisingly grassy and rolling. Finishing in Lourdes for yet another Boulangerie lunch, then on over the Col de Soulor, then Col du Tourmalet, Col d’Aspin and finally Col de Peyresourde. The weather wasn’t great and the col’s were mostly covered in cloud. Not unusual apparently!

That night we stayed in a Logi (B&B) near the top of an obscure Col.
Beautiful spot but there was nowhere else to eat dinner other than in their restaurant, at eye watering prices! Really great to drive over some of the passes I’ve watched on TV, just too bad I didn’t have a bike 🙂