GRAVEL AND TAR – Classic and Gran Fondo

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.

GravelAndTar

I’m pleased to be able to announce AvantiPlus Palmerston North as the naming sponsor for the Gravel and Tar (G&T) Gran Fondo event.

As a new cycling store based in Palmy, Chris Cobham and the team at Avanti Plus have chosen to support a new cycling event – the G&T Gran Fondo – and in doing so are supporting cycling in the region. We are looking forward to working with them up to the event and hopefully beyond.

We are still looking for a naming rights sponsor for the Elite G&T Classic, but working hard to secure a business who wants to be closely associated with an event which has one of the best prize purses in NZ cycling. Please contact Christine Christie or Steve Stannard if you know of anyone interested.

Entries for both events are open, so get in early and reserve your place. Individual (early) entries to the Classic and Gran Fondo are only $50 per person, but plus $100 per team (4 or 5) for eligibility to win the team-based prize money in the Classic. Riders have to be at least U19 category to enter the Classic and need valid cycling race licence (2016).

Entries are open now!