ETHAN CRAINE – NEW ENGALND DEVO

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.

ETHAN CRAINE – NEW ENGALND DEVO

After a 12 month postponement due to Covid Ethan Craine left Palmerston North in March to be based in Boston & ride with the New England Devo team until September

After a good period of acclimatization, training and local racing the New England Devo team got their major race campaign under way at the Armed Forces Cycling Classic in Virginia 5-6 June. In his first international elite race Ethan got of the mark with a solid 14th against some of America’ top crit racers including the then USA Criterium Champion Justin Williams and the Legion Team from Los Angeles

Next up is the Tour of America’s Dairyland 16 – 27 June half way across the country in Milwaukee. 10 days of 75min town centre crit racing with points accumulating from each evenings race towards the overall omnium. As we write they have completed 6 days of racing. Ethan got off to a solid start with a 19th followed by 2 days on the 3rd step, 2 days in 4th, a bad day at the office on day 5 and a solid 5th on day 6. Consistency is paying off and he is currently sitting in 3rd overall on 117 points, 1 point behind 2nd with the tour leader on 152 points. We wish him luck for the remaining 4 days and we’ll keep you posted on where he ends up at the Tour of America’s DairyLand and the rest of the season

To all our other riders, riding internationally or doing exciting things nationally let us know what you are doing as we’d love to share your stories and successes with everyone back here Palmy