Go Jesse – we’ll be cheering for you

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.

On the day he was named in the long list squad for the upcoming world championships, Jesse Sergent claimed another stage win on the Pro Tour in France today.

Sergent, riding for his Radioshack team, was fastest in the 20km time trial on stage four at the Tour de Poitou-Charentes.

The kiwi was 18 seconds ahead of teammate Michal Kwiatkowski with fellow kiwi Sam Bewley sixth.

The win pushes Sergent into the tour lead with an 18 seconds advantage over Kwiatkowski with Peraud at 36s.

“It was a pretty hard TT,” said Sergent. “It was harder than I thought after seeing it on reco. It was up and down constantly. The climbs always took you out of your rhythm but I received such good direction from (Dirk) Demol and I had really good legs today.”

“Thanks to everyone for the message of support. Always nice to read,” Sergent said on his Twitter. “The whole team was strong today. Today’s TT was a tough one but the legs felt good and I am very happy and proud to win today for Team Radioshack.”

This follows Sergent’s first Pro Tour victory in the time trial at the Eneco Tour two weeks ago.

“It was no surprise to me,” said Demol. “Jesse can do all TT courses. Today was not technical but demanding all the time with the up and down. Bewley is always improving. In the Eneco Tour he showed progress when he was 13th and had to do the last 15k in the pouring rain. He couldn’t see anything through his helmet. Now tomorrow we will be defending this jersey for Jesse.”

The tour finishes tomorrow.

Results: Jesse Sergent NZL, Radioshack, 25:10, 1; Michal Kwiatkowski POL, Radioshack, at 18 sec, 2; Jean-Christophe Peraud FRA AG2R La Mondiale at 36s, 3. Also: Sam Bewley NZL, Radioshack, at 40s, 6.